Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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It's the end of the school year as we know it. Unlike the comeback line of R.E.M.'s 1987 pop hit, not everyone feels fine about the decision, which was announced Monday afternoon. Ewing Public, Nebraska Unified District #1 and other schools in the Educational Service Unit 8 area reported they were following recommendations from local health officials, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Dr. Matt Blomstedt, commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education, to keep school buildings shuttered...
The first deaths in Nebraska, related to COVID-19, were reported Friday. According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, a 50-year-old man from Douglas County, with underlying health concerns, is believed to be the first Nebraskan to die from COVID-19. The man, who had been in self-isolation at home since March 11, had contact with a known COVID-19 case out of state. Dr. Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department, expressed sympathy to the family and said,...
On a normal day, the streets of Rome bustle with activity: tourists tossing coins into Trevi Fountain, viewing mosaics at St. Peter's Basilica or taking in ancient history at the Colosseum or Pantheon. As COVID-19 wound its way through the Italian countryside, infecting approximately 64,000 natives, activity in the nation's capital slowed to a standstill. Studies continued at the Pontifical North American College, despite the lull of activity across the sprawling city of eight million...
The Sunset Store, in Ewing, will be closed until further notice because of COVID-19 concerns. Donations will not be accepted at this time....
The Orchard Alumni have decided to postpone the 2020 alumni gathering from May 23 to July 25. Members will be receiving notifications by mail or social media. Alumni festivities will be joining in the activities of the Orchard Celebration Days, July 24 through 26, with an open house/last dance at the school gym on Saturday, July 25, beginning at 2 p.m. There will be time for self-guided tours, photo-ops and visiting. Jerry Stingley, a recent inductee to the Nebraska Music/Nebraska Rocks Hall of Fame will provide music for a last dance in the...
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...
New flag poles will be installed at the Ewing Cemetery after a donation from Elkhorn Rural Public Power District's community development fund, Operation Round Up. Sarah Ahlers, a member of ERPPD's community development team, recently presented a check to Ewing Village Trustees' chairman James Ramold and Larry Jorgensen, of Ewing Sanders American Legion Post 214....
As I neared age 40, a wave of depression washed over me, sweeping me into an abyss of self-pity. When I look back at that time, life was a jumbled mess and saying I was unhappy was an understatement. On my birthday, I took a long look in the mirror and knew I needed to focus on positive elements of life. Too much negativity already existed in the world. I didn’t need to add to it. My personal present - a bitchslap to the face - worked. I started by focusing on gratitude, listing the little t...
Governor Pete Ricketts announced he is requesting $58.6 million of emergency funding from the Nebraska Legislature to support the state’s efforts to combat coronavirus 2019 disease. Dr. Gary Anthone, the state’s chief medical officer, joined the governor for Friday’s press conference. He overviewed the state’s procedures to test patients for COVID-19 and trace contacts of anyone testing positive for the disease. He also talked about how the state and the medical community are expanding capacity to perform tests. Ricketts was also joined...
Many unprecedented events have taken place over this past week. In my March 13 newsletter, I wrote about the Legislature giving first-round approval to the budget bills. Since then, COVID-19 has completely overshadowed everything else. Terms such as community spread and social distancing have become part of our daily language. The Legislature postponed its session, beginning March 17, until it is safe and necessary to call members back into session. However, the speaker may call us back in soon...
CODY SMITH Policy Associate, Center for Rural Affairs After a lengthy fight during the 2019 Iowa legislative session, a unique coalition of agriculture and environmental groups joined forces with MidAmerican Energy, the state’s largest investor-owned utility, to negotiate a consensus agreement to expand solar energy in Iowa. A year later, the product of these conversations was signed into law—creating a gold standard for solar energy across the nation. This agreement—Senate File 583—protects investments in solar energy from farmers, small b...
Funeral services for Jacquette "Jackie" Bartak, 84, of Ewing, will be held privately for her family, due to the present healthcare precautions. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery rural Clearwater. Snider Memorial Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Jackie died March 22 at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh. A memorial service, for the public, will be held at a later date. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.snidermemorialfh.com ~~~ Jacquette Ann Bartak was born July 6,...
The Nebraska Supreme Court has denied the appeal of an Antelope County man. Darryl Lierman, 53, who was sentenced to 70 to 140 years in prison in March 2018, appealed his conviction in April 2018. He was convicted of eight counts of sexual assault of a child in January 2018. Appeal proceedings were reviewed under the direction of Chief Supreme Court Justice C.J. Heavican. Bradley Ewalt of Norfolk represented the appellant, while the appellee case was handled by Attorney General Douglas Peterson and assistant Kimberly Klein. The judgment and...
Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company will offer a one gigabyte credit for customers with a student at home, per closed school day, per student, during the coronavirus outbreak. Customers with students at home, college or otherwise, are asked to complete the form at https://nntc.net/closed-school-student-form/. Proof of the student's identity and school will be needed. Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company recognizes the importance of internet to do schoolwork from home with the possibility of...
Bill Thiele, Clearwater, has been appointed to the Nebraska Dairy Industry Development Board. The appointment was announced March 18 by Governor Pete Ricketts. Thiele joins Kent Pulfer and Douglas Temme, of Wayne. Appointees are unpaid and are not subject to Legislative confirmation....
Lindsey A. Rokahr, 37, of Ewing faced the Honorable Kale Burdick on March 17 in the Holt County court for arraignment on three counts: Count I, possession of marijuana, less than one ounce, second offense, a Class 4 misdemeanor; Count II, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; and Count III, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor. She pleaded guilty to counts II and III and Count I was dismissed, without prejudice, by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. Rokahr was fined $100 on Count II, $25 on Count III and taxed $50 costs of...
Douglas D. Carpenter, 43, of Neligh, who was scheduled to face the Honorable Donna Taylor for a bench trial in the Antelope County courtroom Monday, March 23, reached a plea agreement with prosecutor Joe Abler. Carpenter had pleaded not guilty in October 2019 to Count I, stalking, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count II, disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count III, resisting arrest, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Per terms of the agreement, Carpenter pleaded no contest to an amended Count I, criminal attempt – stalking, a Class 2 misdemeanor, a...
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 Centers 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...
The need for blood donations is always present. According to Governor Pete Ricketts, approximately 4,000 blood drives across the country have been canceled since the COVID-19 pandemic began. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued a call to action Monday afternoon, requesting healthy and able individuals donate blood. "If you want to contribute, please visit aabb.org/giveblood and make an appointment in advance. This will help manage the influx of incoming donors and ensure social distancing me...
Multiple sightings of bears have been reported across the area. A nationwide movement to hunt bears is underway, since schools have been closed due to COVID-19. Based on the popular children's book, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," by Michael Rosen, participants are urged to place a teddy bear in a front window of a neighborhood or business district. Then, families can entertain little ones with the viral pastime. The book tells the story of three children and their parents, who, along with the...
Governor Pete Ricketts issued a new executive order, March 26, allowing restaurants and bars to provide mixed drinks with lids for takeout. "Our restaurants and bars have been some of the hardest hit businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Gov. Ricketts. "I've signed an executive order to help them by allowing takeout for pre-made cocktails and other alcoholic beverages as long as they are sealed with a lid." A copy of the executive order is included....
North Central District Health Department reported Monday they were made aware of a positive COVID-19 case in Antelope County. The individual and family are in quarantine. According to a press release from NCDHD, public health officials have initiated contact investigations and have been assessing potential exposure. All identified close contacts will self-quarantine, at home, and be actively monitored twice daily by public health officials for fever and respiratory symptoms. Community exposure...
