Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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What does it mean to be authentic? Credible. Trustworthy. Real. Genuine. These synonyms for the 2023 word of the year, as selected by the folks at Merriam-Webster, make an important statement about the times in which we live. In an interview with the Associated Press, editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski said searches on the dictionary’s website for the definition of “authentic” are normally high. But in 2023, Sokolowski reported searches were “boosted to new heights.” “We see in 2023 a kind of cris...
Regulations regarding construction and operation of solar energy conversion systems were approved, Friday, when Holt County supervisors met in regular session. County planning and zoning administrator Marv Fritz provided an update via phone. According to Fritz, planning and zoning board members suggested using the property line as the setback because “it’s the cleanest.” “If it’s the property line, it only deals with a house. Any of the other stuff isn’t going to have an effect,” Fritz said. ...
Summerland girls' wrestling team finished ninth in team standings at the Dec. 28 Winnebago Lady Indian Invite. Thirty-seven teams from Nebraska and South Dakota participated in the one-day event, which saw Norfolk take home the team title. Omaha Westside finished in the runner-up position. Nine Bobcat wrestlers finished in the top six in their weight classes in varsity and junior varsity competition. Ava Cleveland worked through the championship bracket in the 110-pound class and finished...
The Lady Bobcats finished 1-1 in winter break play at the Summerland Holiday Tournament. On Dec. 28, the Bobcats relied on a strong fourth quarter to defeat West Holt, 44-38. Ady Mlnarik scored 18 points and Lydia Robertson chipped in 17 in the win. While the 'Cats finished at 50% from the two-point range, they ended one of nine from outside the arc, with Preslie Robertson sinking the solo shot. Saturday's contest against Ainsworth was a back-and-forth brawl, with Ainsworth capitalizing in the...
Summerland Public School could potentially have a new superintendent selected for the 2024-2025 school year as early as the first part of February. The search is currently being advertised online by the Nebraska Association of School Boards, the organization selected by Summerland’s board of education to aide search efforts. The decision was made Dec. 20, during a special meeting held at the school. Board president Steven Thiele said following the resignation of Supt. Kyle Finke, at the Dec. 13...
It's soup season and The Waterhole, located at 503 Main Street, in Clearwater, is ready to tempt taste buds with scrumptious soups and comfort food. Co-owner Debb Pofahl said lunches will be served twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning Jan. 2. Pofahl said the decision to serve lunches was customer driven. They asked and bar owners said yes. "We started serving lunches because of the limited availability for places to eat or have lunch," Pofahl said. "We feel adding lunches benefits...
The Village of Clearwater will have a new street superintendent in 2024. During the trustees’ Dec. 13 meeting, the board unanimously approved hiring Advanced Consulting Engineering Services and John Zwingman as the village’s engineering company and street superintendent for 2024. Reed Miller, from Miller & Associates has filled the position in past years. According to Kelly Kerkman, village chairman, Zwingman will attend a meeting each quarter. “This guy comes highly recommended,” he said. B...
Ewing Village Trustees approved a liquor license for White Star, during the board’s Dec. 11 meeting. A public hearing, held prior to the opening of regular session, was necessary due to new ownership at the convenience store located at 250 US Highway 275. No statements were made against granting of the license. Trustees received four sealed bids for a pay loader the village listed for sale. Bids ranged from $6,500 to $16,899. Chairman James Ramold made a motion to accept the high bid, $...
The final minutes of Christmas 2023 are counting down. It's nearly midnight, the house is quiet except for the steady hum from the corn stove and an occasional cough from Scott, who is tucked in bed, fast asleep. I'm sitting in the dark (except for the glow of my computer screen), looking at holiday lights from Cade's place across the street and Steve and Linda's next door. The constant glow brings a sense of peace and calm, a welcome reprieve from the blowing snow landing in the area last...
This is kind of a Christmas story. It's a reflection on angels and the meaning associated with giving, it's about Gloria in excelsis Deo and shepherds and proclamations of good news. She first appeared before me on a mellow December evening, cast against an ebony sky. Something about her presence caught my attention. She looked wild, untamed even. Yet, at the same time she brought such a sense of peace. A yellow-gold aura of light outlined her form. I could not stop staring at her, feeling a...
Summerland Public School Superintendent Kyle Finke will not be returning when his contract expires June 30, 2024. The administrator submitted his resignation, Dec. 13, following a 93-minute executive session, for discussion on his evaluation, during the board of education's regular monthly meeting. Discussion on Finke's biannual evaluation was listed on the board's agenda under new business. Two additional agenda items were added Dec. 12, as required per state statute, prior to the 24-hour...
Clearwater-area residents will soon have an opportunity to connect with medical professionals via medical video conferencing. A private telehealth room, located at the Clearwater Public Library, will be available for meeting with doctors and specialists, mental health counseling. Additionally, the new room may be utilized for individuals and families, without access to technology and/or broadband capabilities, to connect. The room is possible, due to a partnership with the library, Clearwater...
Four and one-half points. That’s the margin that separated first and second places, Friday, at the Elgin Public Pope John Girls’ Wrestling Invitational. Elkhorn Valley landed just ahead of the Bobcats, 123.5 to 119. West Holt finished third, scoring 73; Schuyler junior varsity, fourth, 68; and Neligh-Oakdale, fifth, with 61 points in the 13-team field. Ava Cleveland struck gold in the 110-pound class. She opened with a win by fall, in :45, over Eva Bermel of Randolph and pinned Schuyler’s Gabri...
Adyson Mlnarik has attended basketball games since before she entered kindergarten. On Dec. 8, the Summerland senior joined an elite group as she drove the lane for a layup against Niobrara/Verdigre. The bucket netted Mlnarik 1,000 points for her career. "It's been a big week," she said, Friday. Mlnarik's had a hot hand since the season began, averaging 29.2 points per game, connecting on 47% of field goals attempted. From the charity stripe, Mlnarik is accurate 84% of the time. From...
Antelope County Commissioners learned heard from two speakers, Dec. 5, about concerns with a potential carbon-capture pipeline projected to run through the northern tier of the county. Doyle Turner, of Moville, Iowa, and Trent Loos, a central Nebraska rancher also presented similar information at an informational forum, Dec. 4, in Neligh. Turner said years ago, he had invested in a company that sold carbon dioxide for "any kind of purpose you can imagine." "I knew CO2 had a lot of value. What I...
Plans to renovate the Clearwater American Legion building will continue. On Sunday, Sons of the American Legion members Tom Thiele and Fred Thiele told a group of approximately 30 community members that pledges for fundraising have been coming in. “Contributions have been really good,” Fred Thiele said. Clearwater Chamber of Commerce donated $100,000 and the Clearwater Sons of the American Legion kicked in $25,000, in addition to pledges for the project. Thiele estimated approximately $25...
Have you started Christmas shopping or are you one of those people who have completed the task and have everything wrapped? I belong to the first group. While I blame my tardiness on my over-scheduled time, part of me also knows I don't need to hurry because I can get everything I need locally. The push for shopping local hit home last week, when a 20-something year old shopped the Sidebar for holiday gifts. She told me she's "keeping it local." Her holiday gift giving will feature only items...
Despite 30 points from senior phenom Ady Mlarnik, the Bobcats couldn't quite catch Niobrara/Verdigre in Friday night action. The Cougars left Summerland with a 57-53 win. Early in the first quarter, Mlnarik drove the lane for a bucket, her 1,000th career point, cementing her place in Bobcat basketball history. The Robertson sisters - Lydia and Preslie - each finished with eight points. Head coach Jacob Birch said his squad dug themselves a little bit of a hole getting down by 11 or 12ish in the...
Michael Koenig poured in 16 points, while Preston Hoke scored a dozen in Friday's 63-19 lopsided win over Niobrara/Verdigre. Still, head coach Brett Kaczor said his team did not get off to a great start. "We gave up two offensive rebounds and turned the ball over three times in the first couple minutes of the game and found ourselves down 0-4 right away," he said. Summerland jumped out to a 29-4 lead in the first quarter and extended the spread to 44-11 by the half. Part way through the third...
Summerland wrestlers scored 101 points at Friday's Southern Valley Invitational, finishing sixth overall. Sutherland won the invite, with 169 points, followed by Chase County, 166.5; Sedgwick County/Fleming, Colorado, 139; Loomis, 127; and Arapahoe, 116.5. Five Bobcat wrestlers earned medals at the meet. Ethan Kester ended third in 138. He defeated CC's Alonso Martinez, by fall in :54 and Franklin's Lorance Davis, by fall, in 1:33. In the quarterfinals, Brody Patterson, Wilcox-Hildreth,...
Summerland jumped out to an 11-4 lead over Boyd County, Saturday, and never looked back as the Bobcats defeated the Lady Spartans, 43-30. Yet, head coach Jacob Birch said the Bobcats overcame some adversity to "grind out a tough win." "Boyd County played well and took us out of what we want to do offensively, so credit to them there," he said. "We played hard and our second-half defense really made a difference." Ady Mlnarik scored 19 points and Jenna Funk pulled down 11 rebounds in the win....
Twenty-five teams descended on West Point, Saturday, for the Battle at the Point girls' wrestling invite. At the end of the day, four Bobcat varsity wrestlers earned medals. The Bobcats finished fifth in team standings, scoring 87.5 points. Grand Island won the team title, tallying 269.5 points, followed by Norfolk, 147.5; Lakeview, 115; and South Sioux City, 107. Ava Cleveland earned the silver medal in the 110-pound class. She worked her way through the bracket with wins over Mollie Corkle,...
Mary Reyes, of Page, was simply looking for something extra to occupy her time, when a conversation with her sister and brother-in-law led to a fresh idea. For nearly a year, Reyes has been creating scented bead car fresheners and selling them under the Godly Irresistible Freshies label. She said the process is painless. First, she mixes aroma beads with various fragrance oils, which cure for two weeks. During that time period, Reyes shakes the bottles four to five times a day. "I walk by and...
Summerland board of education members will learn how the district approaches the state’s American civics requirement when the board meets in regular session, Wednesday, Dec. 13. The meeting is scheuled to begin at 6 p.m., in the board room. Per state statute, the American Civics Committee is required to meet twice annually when public testimony can be entered into the record. Also included in new business, board members will discuss the 2024-2025 certificated staff negotiated agreement, take a...
The structure of county government day in Holt County may have a different look next fall. Suupervisor Doug Frahm said for a number of years, the local veterans service officer has assisted with organizing the day’s program. “Ken (Stenka) doesn’t feel he has the responsibility or the time to do it anymore,” Frahm reported. “And he’s right, it’s not his program, it’s the American Legion’s program. He did volunteer to do it at the time ... before Arnold Hall, the county commander or a po...
