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Antelope and Holt counties are two of the 55 Nebraska counties designated as primary natural disaster areas, due to a recent drought. United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack notified Gov. Jim Pillen of the designation, March 31. Based on the U.S. Drought Monitor data, counties included in the designation either suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season for eight or more consecutive weeks or fell into extreme or exceptional drought categories....
A South Dakota man who was found sleeping in a rural Orchard living room in March appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor at the Antelope County courthouse in Neligh last week. Douglas H. Jenkins, 36, of Brookings, waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal trespassing, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed March 29. Jenkins told the judge he had been driving for more than 20 hours and thought the farmhouse was abandoned. “I know I must have,” he said. “I deeply apologize, it wasn’t my intent to enter anyone...
The cost to conduct business with the Antelope County Clerk's office will be higher, following adoption of Resolution 2023-04-00001, at the April 4 Antelope County Commissioners meeting. During the March 14 commissioners' meeting, Antelope County Clerk Lisa Payne brought attention to the fee schedule, primarily pertaining to the compilation of requested public records. According to Payne, state auditors noted that fees should be established and maintained per board policy. The clerk's office...
A St. Paul woman died Wednesday, April 5, following a crash in northern Antelope County. At approximately 2:50 p.m., a Ford Edge was southbound on Nebraska Highway 14 when the driver failed to stop at the intersection with U.S. Highway 20. The Ford then struck a semi/tanker trailer Antionette Kowalski, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi was not injured, according to Cody Thomas, spokesperson for the Nebraska State Patrol. Firefighters from Brunswick, Orchard, Royal and...
Orchard graduates will gather May 27 for the 2023 alumni banquet. Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the banquet set to start at 6:30. The event will be held in the Orchard Community Center. Members of the class of 1973 will chair the event. Members from 1939 to 1973 will receive an invitation via mail. Others will be notified via the Orchard High School Alumni Facebook page. The “Summerland Advocate-Messenger” and “Orchard News” will also post information about the event. Honor classes will include graduates from 1948, 1973 and 1998. T...
“Grandma, can I play a game on your phone?” I’m not sure how many times Marcus uttered that sentence, Sunday. At least 100, I’m certain. Each time, I dashed his hopes with, “Grandma doesn’t have any games on her phone.” Technically, I wanted him to burn off the sugar high after finding Easter eggs scattered across the backyard and devouring the contents. Technically, I’m a bit territorial when it comes to my phone. It’s basically a storage drive for the 18,732 photos and 3,246 videos - the major...
Let's talk about the embarrassment formerly known as the Nebraska Legislature. The 49 elected senators are now 60 days into the scheduled 90-day session and the scoresheet is mostly bare. There are two bills awaiting "final reading," the last of three rounds of debate by the full Legislature. Two bills have been killed, nine have been withdrawn and 614 are being held by committees. According to headlines in the New York Times and other national media outlets, the Nebraska Legislature has passed...
Johnny Nash may have started his song with “I can see clearly now, the rain has gone,” but what about someone with cataracts? They cannot easily see “all the obstacles in their way” and there are not “dark clouds that make you blind” like in the song, but cataracts do cause vision clouding. Cataracts is the name given to the clouding of the lenses in the eyes. These lenses allow light to pass through the eye to the retina, where the signal is sent to the brain so we can perceive the world aroun...
This week saw the Legislature continue the discussion of the governor’s school finance and tax package. LB 243, as amended by the Revenue Committee, would make a series of changes aimed at easing the financial impact of increasing property tax valuations on Nebraska’s local property taxpayers. Among changes proposed, the measure would increase the minimum amount of relief granted under the Property Tax Credit Act to $388 million in tax year 2024 and $560 million by tax year 2029. This amo...
The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is available to help lower-income households with water utility services - drinking water or wastewate - costs including deposits, reconnect fees, standard charges, standard fees and taxes included in a Nebraska household’s water utility services bill. The Department of Health and Human Services wants to ensure that all who are eligible, have the opportunity to apply for the LIHWAP assistance program. To qualify for LIHWAP, a household must: • Have income at or below 150% of the federal pov...
Prescribed burns are taking place this spring on some Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife management areas, state parks and state recreation areas where weather conditions allow. Burning allows habitat managers to positively impact more acres. Burns will be conducted this spring and those not completed will be attempted this summer or fall, as weather conditions allow. Burned acres often become more attractive to wildlife species, and for some species, the effect is immediate. The long-term effects on wildlife habitat are much better...
Weather permitting, the mobile food pantry, sponsored by the Neligh Faith Community Church, as well as various other churches, individuals and businesses in the area, will disperse food, Tuesday, April 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., at the American Legion Club in Neligh. Volunteers will be on hand to assist with loading the product into cars, parking and collecting the necessary information. Any weather-related announcements will be on the Norfolk and O’Neill radio stations....
Jordan J. Knievel, 21, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on April 5 on three counts, Count I, third-degree assault on a police officer, a Class 3A felony; Count II, false reporting, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and Count III, obstructing a police officer, also a Class 1 misdemeanor. Taylor advised Knievel of the possible penalties if she is convicted of the charges, including up to three years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine on Count I and up to one year and/or $1,000 fine on each counts II and...
The forest green roof and pair of bronze stags frozen in combat are impossible to miss as you drive down Interstate 80. So are the two corporate buildings – 550,000 square feet of nearly empty office space, long offered for a $1 a year lease. The water tower looms overhead, painted in the same green, heralding what once was: "Cabela's World Headquarters, City of Sidney." For 54 years, Cabela's made its home here, a juggernaut that kept the town humming. But in 2017, the sporting goods store s...
The Bobcats earned 16 medals en route to a second-place team finish at the Sandhills Invite, held April 3, in Bassett. West Holt won the team title, scoring 131 points, while the Bobcats finished with 93. Valentine ended third, with 60 points; North Central, fourth, 56 and Ainsworth, fifth, 52. Bobcats won three medals in high jump. Ruger Switzer cleared 5' 10, securing the gold medal. Ryan Rifer jumped 5' 8 to finish second. Carter Bergman secured the fifth-place medal after jumping 5' 6. Alec...
The Lady Bobcat track team earned multiple medals at the North Central Sandhills Invite. The team traveled to Bassett for the meet, April 3. Summerland finished second in team standings, with 73 points. West Holt claimed the top spot, accumulating 154.5 points; Burke, South Dakota, finished third, with 62 points, followed by Ainsworth, 61 and North Central, 49. Hadley Cheatum was named outstanding female athlete at the conclusion of the meet. The University of South Dakota track commit earned...
Brennon J. Coleman, 39, of Randolph appeared in Antelope County Court last week, alongside his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh for preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony, third-degree domestic assault, second offense, alleged March 12 in Neligh. Coleman waived the preliminary hearing and the Honorable Donna Taylor bound the case over to Antelope County district court, where he is set for arraignment April 26. Bond posted March 27 is continued at $20,000, 10% cash, with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim....
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater will be held Sunday, April 16, at 5 p.m., at the library meeting room and will be open to the public. Purpose of the meeting is to interview summer help applicants. The board reserves the right to enter executive session for the interviews. An agenda for the special meeting is kept continuously current and available for public inspection at the office of the village clerk. Except...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska April 4, 2023 Chairman opened meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approve agenda. Approved minutes of the March 14, 2023, Board of Commissioner Meeting. Correspondence was reviewed. No zoning administrator report. The quarterly jail inspection will be completed after the meeting. Met with members of Oakdale Village Board – no action. Approved four promotional fund applications. Appointed two members to Antelope County Visitor Committee. Approved P...
NOTICE OF MEETING SUMMERLAND SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the Summerland Public School, District 02-0115, Board of Education, will hold its regular board meeting on Monday, April 17, 2023, at 5:30 p. m. The public meetings will be held in the board room at 51293 857th Rd, Ewing, Nebraska. An agenda, kept continuously current, is available for inspection at the office of the superintendent during normal business hours. Additionally, a link to the agenda is available on the district’s website – District Inf...
Dennis C. Cullen, 65, of O'Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O'Neill on April 4 for sentencing in a case that has taken a few turns. Cullen was charged with a May 20, 2022, crime, assault in the third degree, in a complaint filed by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly on Nov. 9, 2022. Cullen appeared for arraignment Dec. 6, 2022, accompanied by his attorney at the time, Martin Klein of Neligh. Cullen entered a no contest plea, pursuant to a plea agreement with...
Arrest warrants were issued for three defendants who failed to appear in the Holt County court in O’Neill on April 4. The Honorable Burdick issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Jasmine A. Heck, 35, of Bonesteel, South Dakota, who failed to appear for arraignment on seven counts. The complaint filed by Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly, on March 16 alleges, Count I, no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; four Class 3 misdemeanors - Count II, no valid registration; Count III, no proof of ownership; Count IV, no o...
Faith King, of Clearwater, has been awarded a Career Scholars Program Scholarship valued at $24,000 to continue her education at Wayne State College. King will be a graduate of Summerland High School in 2023. She is the daughter of Brian and Chantel King. King is involved in multiple extracurricular activities at Summerland School, including SkillsUSA, one-act play production, speech, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Seminar, Cornhusker...