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Articles from the April 2, 2020 edition


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  • Positive COVID-19 case reported in Antelope County

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    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...

  • Antelope, Holt counties to be included in directed health measure

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    UPDATED: APRIL 1, 2020 @ 8:04 P.M. North Central District Health Department, in communication with state officials, have signed the NCDHD counties, including Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce and Rock, into the Directed Health Measures, effective April 1, at 10 p.m., through May 11, unless the order is extended. Please read the Directed Health Measures in full carefully, they can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services website at htt...

  • Antelope County commissioner fined for official misconduct

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Apr 2, 2020

    Antelope County commissioner Eli Jacob, 66, of Clearwater was sentenced Wednesday morning in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. The Honorable Donna Taylor fined Jacob $500 and ordered him to pay $50 costs for his conviction of official misconduct. The case involved accusations that Jacob took a heating unit from the Orchard county barn Jan. 1, 2019. He pleaded no contest to the Class 2 misdemeanor last month after reaching a plea deal with special Antelope County prosecutor Joseph Smith. Smith told the judge that the heater had been remov...

  • First deaths from COVID-19 recorded in Nebraska

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    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,...

  • Coronavirus Cruise Night offers break from isolation, promotes buying local

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    Chubby Checker's 1959 classic "The Twist" blasted from cars, pickups, SUVs and the occasional minivan traveling the main drag in area towns Saturday night. Unlike a scene from the 1950s or early '60s, carloads of teenagers didn't unload and fill a local malt shop, sharing cheeseburgers and sipping chocolate shakes from separate straws. In the age of COVID-19, participants of the Coronavirus Cruise Night, sponsored by KBRX, in O'Neill, remained in their vehicles, took a few whips along Main...

  • AMH sets up separate Neligh clinics

    Apr 2, 2020

    Neligh AMH Family Practice Clinic has begun separating patients with non-respiratory symptoms, such as back pain, med reviews, wellness baby checks, vaccinations, etc., from patients with respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, cough, sore throat and/or fever of 100.4°F or higher. Separation of patients, by symptom, went into effect March 30. The new Neligh AMH Family Practice Clinic will be the location for patients with respiratory issues to be seen during regular hours, 9 a.m. to...

  • -Isms: Views on life in rural America

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    This is a love story, of sorts; a stream-of-consciousness gathering of thoughts and concerns, a song of praise for unsung heroes whose daily routines have been upended. Teaching isn’t an easy career to begin with. Sure, there are those people who think it’s an 8-to-4 job, with summer’s free and two weeks of Christmas vacation. What they don’t realize is, after staying in your classroom until 5 p.m., every day, you take work home - papers to grade, lessons to fine-tune, phone calls to parents...

  • Alternative Assessment

    Travis Rudloff, Journalist|Apr 2, 2020

    “Being negative and critical is easy, showing positivity and maintaining a positive mindset is where the real work begins.” These were words I used in an interview at the beginning of the month. When applying for a promotion for an administrative role in residence life at college, I was asked how I would maintain motivation and help motivate my resident assistants for the upcoming year. Without hesitation, I responded with, “Maintaining a positive mindset ...” It was the core concept I relied...

  • Legislators pass emergency funding bill

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Apr 2, 2020

    The Legislature was called back into session March 23 to pass emergency funding relating to the spread of coronavirus. An amendment was added to LB 1198, a bill that originally sought to appropriate funding for the restoration of doors to the legislative chamber. LB 1198 had already received first-round approval. An amendment offered by the chair of the Appropriations Committee, Sen. John Stinner, struck the original content of the bill and replaced it with an appropriation of $83.6 million from...

  • Rural resiliency demonstrated by ensuring our children are fed

    Apr 2, 2020

    Rural communities are showcasing resiliency by ensuring kids are fed during widespread school closures caused by coronavirus. With so many uncertainties surrounding us, where the next meal is coming from should not be one of them. This should especially not be a concern for growing young bodies who happen to be our rural legacy. In West Point, all students will be provided free breakfast and lunch while school is closed. Households pick up meals at regular bus stops in town and in nearby communities the school also serves. Other rural schools...

  • Joan Thramer

    Apr 2, 2020

    Celebration of life services for Joan Thramer, 88, formerly of Ewing, will be at a later date, due to the present healthcare precautions. Joan died March 20, at Arbor Care in O’Neill. Snider Memorial Funeral Home, in Clearwater, is handling arrangements. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.snidermemorialfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Peter’s Christian Mothers....

  • Holt County district court judge sentences O'Neill man

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Apr 2, 2020

    An O’Neill man was sentenced March 23 by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district court. Gabrino Rosales-Hernandez, 38, was convicted of three counts Jan. 13, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. Rosales-Hernandez entered guilty pleas to amended charges, Count I, operating a motor vehicle during time of revocation, subsequent offense, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, failure to yield right of way, an infraction; and attempted false reporting, also a Class 2 misdemeanor (original charge - c...

  • Dream Big quilt created to inspire other women

    Apr 2, 2020

    In December 2015, Teri Peitzmeier, of Neligh, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her journey began like it does for most breast cancer patients – after she received a breast cancer screening mammogram. She chose to have a mammogram done at Antelope Memorial Hospital, with its new 3D mammography equipment. Mammogram images revealed an extremely small mass, half the size of a credit card number, in her right breast. Had Peitzmeier completed a 2D mammogram instead of the 3D version, the lesion c...

  • Small business relief offered

    Apr 2, 2020

    Governor Pete Ricketts welcomed news that the Small Business Administration has issued a statewide economic injury declaration for Nebraska. The declaration qualifies small businesses throughout the state to apply for SBA disaster assistance loans. “As Nebraska steps up its efforts to combat coronavirus, we’ve limited the size of public gatherings and asked people to stay home when possible,” said Ricketts. “These temporary measures are vitally important to public health, but they present challenges for the day-to-day operations of many sm...

  • Cases proceed in Antelope County district courtroom

    Apr 2, 2020

    Although several cases were continued until a later date, the Honorable Mark Johnson presided from the bench in the Antelope County district court Wednesday, March 25. Alexander J. Fitzgerald, 28, of Newman Grove appeared for sentencing on a Class 1 misdemeanor count of third-degree assault, committed Aug. 22, 2019, in Tilden. Johnson sentenced him to a $500 fine and $149 costs of prosecution. He was represented by Antelope County public defender Patrick Carney of Norfolk. Dalynna S. Robertson, 49, of Oakdale was also scheduled for sentencing,...

  • State ag land values increase

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    For the first time since 2014, agricultural land values in Nebraska have increased. According to preliminary results from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Farm Real estate Market Survey, ag land values increased 3% over last year's statewide average of $2,650 per acre. The increase is the first year-to-year jump in price since land values peaked at $3,315 per acre in 2014. Limited supply of land for sale, strong demand for purchases and disaster assistance payments from the last year drove...

  • Holt County leaders consider hiring HR firm

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Apr 2, 2020

    Holt County supervisors are considering the engagement of a human resources firm to help navigate employment issues. A telephone conference was held with Chad Thies from Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln during the March 16 meeting at the courthouse in O'Neill. After hearing what the firm offered in services, chairman Bill Tielke asked Thies to submit a proposal. Supervisor Steve Boshart estimated an annual cost of $36,000 to $40,000. "It will be high," Tielke said. "But the thing is, if...

  • Ewing school administrators, staff iron out details of continuity of learning plan

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    Don't panic. That's the message Ewing Principal Greg Appleby wants parents and students to follow as the school transitions into a continuity of learning plan. The plan went into effect Wednesday, April 1. Students picked up assignments and textbooks on Monday. "I feel good about what our teachers have planned," Appleby said. Students have been out of the building since March 17. Enrichment activities were distributed then, with work set to wrap up March 30. Appleby said those activities came...

  • Applications accepted for Farm Family Awards

    Apr 2, 2020

    The Aksarben Foundation, along with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, recently announced applications for the Nebraska Pioneer Farm and Nebraska Heritage Farm Awards are being accepted through May 5. The awards recognize Nebraska farm families who have consecutively held ownership of land in the same family for at least 100 years (Pioneer) or 150 years (Heritage), respectively. “The dedication and perseverance demonstrated by these families is a testament to the strong Nebraska values that set our state apart a...

  • Local students selected for Cornhusker Boys, Girls State

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    Five area students have been selected to represent local American Legion posts and auxiliaries at Cornhusker Girls and Boys State. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the students will not have an opportunity to attend the week-long educational sessions, scheduled for May 31 to June 6, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Avery Cheatum, daughter of Dana and Rachael, was chosen to represent Page's auxiliary unit. She is a junior at Orchard Public School. Clearwater Public School junior Elly Herley,...

  • Dirt work underway at Summerland site

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 2, 2020

    A little rain, cold temperatures and a brisk breeze did not stop dirt work at the Summerland school site, March 25. Since then, dirt work has continued, a new temporary driveway has been installed along Summerland Road and a retention wall was constructed....