Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Antelope County Commissioners approved a motion during an emergency meeting, March 18, to limit access to the courthouse. Beginning March 19, individuals needing to conduct business with local officials will be required to make an appointment with a specific office. The change will be in effect until April 7, or as deemed necessary by Center for Disease Control and/or state officials. A list of office phone numbers and email addresses will appear on all courthouse doors. Visitors will be met at...
Aaron Boggs of Creighton, who has served as foreman of Antelope County's road department for about a year, was hired to head the department when the county commissioners met at the courthouse in Neligh on March 10. The commissioners entered closed session to consider applications, after an announcement by chairman Charlie Henery just before 11 a.m. "I have to leave by noon or so," he said. "So, we need to go into executive session to talk about personal employee stuff. We need a motion to do...
Taylor Ann Bolling has always liked horses. For the past seven years, Bolling has been involved in rodeo and horse-related activities, including 4-H. Now, she will use skills she has developed to future her education. The Clearwater Public School senior signed her letter of intent Wednesday, March 11, with Northeast Community College's rodeo team. She credits watching barrel racing and other events at the Clearwater Rodeo for sparking an interest. Northeast rodeo coach Fenton Nelsen said...
Ewing Public Schools, as well as the three districts comprising Nebraska Unified District #1 - Clearwater, Orchard and Verdigre, will not be in session, amid concerns of the COVID-19 virus. Classes were canceled, beginning March 17. Ewing Ewing Principal Greg Appleby said EPS will be closed until March 30. "At this time classes will resume on March 31," Appleby said. Future decisions about school closure will be communicated through media channels, Facebook and the school's JMC message system....
Clearwater alumni are invited to return to their roots for the school’s 2020 celebration, scheduled for May 23. At 9 a.m., the annual golf tournament will begin at Summerland Golf Course. For more information, contact Luke Thiele at 402-992-2981. Evening events will begin at 5:30 p.m., with self-guided tours at the school building. The remainder of events will take place at the Clearwater American Legion. Social hour and class photos will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner and ceremony set to start a...
By now, you’ve more than likely seen photos on social media or in other media outlets showing bare shelves in grocery stores. Those photos give the appearance that America is running out of food (and toilet paper, but that’s another issue). Those photos lead to unnecessary panic and anxiety. While a picture is worth a thousand words, those photos don’t tell the whole story. Ask dairy farmers and meat producers. The food supply chain isn’t empty. In many cases, a large surplus of goods is stoc...
COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, has begun to dominate the headlines. To say that events are unfolding rapidly on a global, national, state and even local level, would seem an enormous understatement. We are in uncharted waters, with many unknowns. But the goal needs to be to reduce the spread and impact as best we can, in order to protect the most vulnerable among us. That means adhering to the recommendations of our experts on issues such as hygiene and social distancing. Besides the obvious...
The Appropriations Committee presented its recommendations for the budget to the Legislature this past week. Budget bills were also given first-round approval from the Legislature. Over the interim, the financial status of the current biennium has improved significantly. The variance from the minimum General Fund reserve was estimated at only $0.2 million when we adjourned last year, but has since grown to $133.8 million. Furthermore, the rainy day fund increased from $322.4 million to $731...
TERESA HOFFMAN Policy Communications Associate, Center for Rural Affairs By now, you have most likely received a postcard or letter in your mailbox inviting you to participate in the 2020 Census. Set forth as an effort to count everyone in the U.S., the data collected as part of the census impacts everyone who is, or is not, counted. Before your mailer filters to the bottom of your to-do stack, take a moment to recognize why completing the census is so important, especially for residents of rural communities and states. At its most basic...
Despite ongoing concerns about the outbreak of COVID-19, the Nebraska Legislature stayed in session March 9 through March 12 and had all-day floor debates. However, concerns about the coronavirus outbreak may force the Nebraska Legislature to suspend the session, according to Patrick O’Donnell, clerk of the Legislature. Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer made the decision to halt the session, March 16. For now, O’Donnell said everyone at the Nebraska State Capitol is doing what they can to prevent the virus from spreading among leg...
In a proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease at its facilities, parks and events, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is limiting some public access. The commission aims to protect its staff and customers by removing opportunities for crowds to gather at facilities and events and by maintaining clean facilities. To do so, the agency has taken the following steps: -- All agency-sponsored events and activities scheduled through May 31 have been canceled. This includes the Cornhusker Trap Shoot, National...
After much speculation regarding the future of the Nebraska Legislature, Speaker Jim Scheer announced in a statement Monday morning that the current session will not reconvene Tuesday and is postponed until further notice. The announcement came after legislative officials hinted last week that senators may not reconvene for the 41st day of the session due to concerns over COVID-19. Over the weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended organized events with 50 or more people be postponed or canceled for the next eight...
The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced four Holt County residents when he presided over the Holt County court last Tuesday, March 10. Harold A. Rockford, 61, of Chambers was sentenced to concurrent terms of 30 and two days in the county jail, respectively, for convictions of first-degree criminal trespass, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, less than $500, a Class 3 misdemeanor. The sentences were ordered consecutive to a jail sentence ordered in a Holt County district court case. He was also ordered to pay $52 costs and $40 restitutio...
The first University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dairy Store started in 1917 on the back of a wagon. "If you brought your own glass and paid a nickel, you could drink all the milk that you could drink," said Michael Boehm, vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The UNL Dairy Store offers dairy products including ice cream and cheeses which are handmade by UNL students in the dairy plant. In October 2019, the Dairy Store opened its new location on the opposite side of the...
A Chambers man was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek last week in the Holt County district courtroom. Harold A. Rockford, 61, was handed a 30-day jail sentence, with credit for six days previously served, on a count of resisting arrest. He was also taxed $147 costs of prosecution. Rockford pleaded guilty to the Class 1 misdemeanor Jan. 13, after reaching a plea agreement with Knox County prosecutor Brent Kelly. In return, Kelly dropped a Class 3A felony count of assaulting an officer and a trespassing charge in another county court case,...
Knowledge. Character. Scholarship. Leadership. Service. Members of the Nebraska Unified chapter of the National Honor Society explained the four tenets of membership during a March 11 induction ceremony. Site advisors, Denise Meyer, Kendra Shrader and Dixie Hanefeldt introduced students currently active in the organization. Meyer explained the selection process and Hunter Klabenes, Emerson Randa, Kaci Wickersham, Lauren Behnk and Rachel Pavelka each introduced each membership requirement....
Ashley Koenig, Sidney Stallbaum and Gage Clifton received first-team post-season honors from the Niobrara Valley Conference. Teams were announced Monday. Girls basketball Joining Koenig and Stallbaum were Taylor Peter and Morgan Ramsey, Chambers/Wheeler Central; Miah Wiebelhaus and Hunter Wiebelhaus, North Central; Olivia Nall, Elkhorn Valley; Kalli Kayl, Boyd County; Hannah Sheridan, Santee; Reaghan Engel, Stuart and Kayce Kallhoff, Elgin Public/Pope John. Brenna Wagner and Tiana Thramer were...
Four Summerland wrestlers were named to the 2020 Niobrara Valley Conference all-conference team. Post-season honors were announced Monday. Rafe Grebin, Eli Thiele, Colton Thiele and Logan Mueller were named to the second team in their respective weight divisions. Wrestlers in each weight class include: • 106: Hunter Bennet, Elkhorn Valley, first team; Carter Beckman, Elgin Public/Pope John, second team; • 113: Zack Hartl, EV, first team; Ben Klemesrud, North Central, second team; • 120: Brock...
Effective Monday, March 23, the Holt County courthouse and annex are open to customers by appointment only. Holt County supervisors approved a motion to limit access to the courthouse during an emergency video-conference meeting, March 20. Limited access will be in effect until at least until March 31, when the supervisors will re-evaluate the situation at their regular meeting. The meeting was called after department heads met Thursday to discuss possible procedures to enact. Individuals needing to conduct business with county officials are...
