Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 19 of 19
After seeking advice from county attorney Joe Abler, the Antelope County commissioners approved issuing a COVID-19 pandemic disaster declaration for Antelope County, beginning Jan. 31, and continuing, per recommendation of the Nebraska Association of County Officials. The attorney was called after county clerk, Lisa Payne, suggested the declaration be backdated to January. After further discussion and Abler's input, the declaration was approved unanimously and dated April 14, but covered...
On Saturday, April 25, North Central District Health Department reported it was made aware of a positive COVID-19 case in Antelope County. This is the second positive case in the county. NCDHD initiated contact investigations with the new case and was able to quickly determine it is not due to community spread. It has been identified that this case is due to close contact with an individual who has tested positive with COVID-19 that is not in the NCDHD district. The case has been in...
Prepared. Diane Carlin, chief executive officer of Antelope Memorial Hospital, used the word to describe staff members' efforts to be prepared if the health care facility in Neligh is faced with an influx of COVID-19 patients. "We've done a lot of good work here at the hospital to be prepared. That's been a best part of this - the coming together of staff," Carlin said during a telephone interview Monday afternoon. She said the hospital has had several trial runs with testing patients and have...
A team of Nebraska Air and Army National Guard members arrived in O'Neill and Bloomfield Friday. Their mission: complete critical COVID-19 testing. North Central District Health Department assisted with the event. According to a media release, received April 16, NCDHD stressed testing events were not due to a large number of COVID-19 cases in the district. "Nebraska National Guard has been in contact with local health departments ... to set up these testing events to gain a clearer picture of...
By Matt Waite, UNL Data Journalism Professor The 16,381 initial unemployment claims last week are a 39% drop from the peak of 27,054 the previous week. However, that current number is still 1,962% higher than before coronavirus. Put another way, the 16,381 claims reported last week is 15,613 claims above the weekly average for 2020 before coronavirus. From January to mid-March, the state reported an average of 778 claims a week. Last week's claims number is larger than the combined populations o...
The Orchard community will host a cruise night for the class of 2020, Friday, April 24. Cruising will begin at 6 p.m. At 8, the football field lights will be turned on for 20 minutes in honor of the seniors. Jim Schutt, class sponsor, will recognize each member. Dusty's and Sugarz will offer meal specials during the event. Attendees are reminded to observe social distancing and to stay in cars, with windows up....
Henry David Thoreau wrote, “When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest of times, and to the latest.” The quote has been on my mind lately for a couple reasons. First, I like music. It powers me through the day, well, music and a strong glass of brewed iced tea. Our graphic designer, Jenna, has a beautiful voice and she sings almost every day. It never fails ... it will be Tuesday afternoon, deadline looming near, and she’ll break out in son...
JESSICA CAMPOS Women's Business Center director Center for Rural Affairs As of Thursday, April 16, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the Paycheck Protection Program had reached the maximum loan limit authorized by Congress, just 14 days after small businesses were first able to apply. The program was created as part of the CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, which included $377 billion in relief to small businesses, with $350 billion of that allocated to the PPP. Congress is debating a proposal to add $250 billion to...
Two state senators want Nebraska to loosen restrictions enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus to help the state’s hurting economy. Sen. Steve Halloran, of Hastings, and Sen. Steve Erdman, of Bayard, said they believe fear and panic directed policy decisions surrounding the pandemic, and they are ready for businesses, schools and Nebraska’s Legislature to reopen. “We cannot afford to go another day with this current failed policy,” the senators wrote in a commentary piece published in the Hastings Tribune April 12. While Gov. Pete Ri...
The St. Peter Lutheran Church, in Orchard, has been going through the process of calling a new pastor. At the quarterly congregational voter's meeting, Jan. 26, discussion was held about updating the church's parsonage, located directly south of the church. The parsonage is over 40 years old. Around 20 volunteers began to update the parsonage just a few days after the meeting. Church member Lynae Stelling said, "Many of the volunteers were farmers who were happy to have a warm place to work on s...
Ewing Public School class of 2020 will be honored guests during a cruise night. The event is planned May 2, the group’s previously scheduled graduation date. Per discussion at the April 16 Ewing Board of Education meeting, formal graduation plans, after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, have not been decided Cruise begins at 6:30 p.m. From 8:10 until 8:30, football field lights will brighten Ewing’s skyline. DW’s Pub will offer evening specials. Attendees are asked to practice safe social distancing guidelines during the cruis...
Chance Boelter, a senior at Orchard Public School, was one of 120 students selected to represent the Best of 2020 by KCAU TV in Sioux City, Iowa. The program, in its 37th year, recognizes area valedictorians or top academically-ranked students. Originally, students would have met April 29 for a luncheon and photo; however, due to COVID-19 restrictions the event has been canceled. Boelter, along with others, will be featured in an on-air video salute, beginning May 1....
Douglas D. Carpenter, 43, of Neligh, was sentenced by the Honorable Donna Taylor in Antelope County court last Wednesday, April 15, for a crime committed Aug. 31, 2019, in Neligh. Taylor sentenced him to three days in the Antelope County Jail and a $500 fine and taxed $69.22 costs of prosecution. Carpenter was convicted of a Class 2 misdemeanor, criminal attempt-stalking, after entering a plea deal last month. Carpenter was arrested by Neligh police and charged with three counts Sept. 1, 2019, Count I, stalking, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count...
The Antelope County USDA Service Center will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. USDA Service Centers are encouraging visitors to take precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. All customers wishing to conduct business with the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Ser...
June 30 retirement of longtime Antelope County clerk of the district court, Judy Cole was announced during the April 14 meeting of the Antelope County commissioners. The meeting was held via video conference, with commissioner Eli Jacob and chairman Charlie Henery present in the meeting room, along with clerk Lisa Payne. Commissioners Dean Smith, Regina Krebs and Carolyn Pedersen participated remotely via Zoom. Sheriff Bob Moore, county attorney Joe Abler, zoning administrator Liz Doerr and...
Between stay-at-home orders, a slowing economy and health concerns, the COVID-19 pandemic has people feeling on edge. Diane Carlin, chief executive officer at Antelope Memorial Hospital, said everyone experiences anxiety at some point. "We all get it," she said. "Mental health is so important in fighting this off." Signs of stress include headaches, poor concentration, sleep difficulties and upset stomach. Formulating and sticking to a routine may help alleviate feelings of helplessness....
On May 12, vote yes twice to approve the LB840 Economic Development Program Plan and LB840 tax in Ewing. What is LB840? LB840 authorizes the village to collect and appropriate local sales tax dollars, if approved by the voters, for the community to use for economic development purposes. The LB840 program is locally controlled. It is run by a local citizens’ advisory committee that makes the decisions on where the funds should be spent and what businesses should be assisted. Who Benefits from LB840? LB840 provides numerous benefits to individual...
Alyssa Moser, of Clearwater, has been awarded the Regents Scholarship to continue her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Regents Scholarship awards full tuition for four years. Alyssa, the daughter of Chris and Sandy Moser, will graduate from O'Neill Public High School in May 2020. She plans to major in Agricultural Economics and minor in Engler Entrepreneurship. Moser is involved in multiple activities including softball, track, speech, FFA, band, O-Club, quiz bowl, student...
The grilled cheese sandwich. Pretty simple. Pretty straightforward. Take a couple of slices of buttered bread and a slice or two of your favorite cheese and heat it up on a griddle. What could be easier? Served with tomato soup it's about as comfortable as comfort food can get. But there can be so much more to this basic sandwich. To be honest, I've never been much of fan of basic grilled cheese. My mom always made them with a slice or two of ham in addition to the cheese and that's the way I...
