Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 17 of 17
When Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard seniors went to school March 16, they did not know it would be the last time they attended school with their classmates. The three school districts announced they would be closed, due to coronavirus concerns, for a two-week period beginning March 17. A week later, administrators announced the remainder of the school year would be completed at home, based on recommendations from local health officials, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Dr. Matt Blomstedt, comm...
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 individual and was able to quickly determine the case is not due to community spread. It was determined the case is due to close contact with an individual who has tested positive with COVID-19 in another health department district. The individual has been in self-isolation at home since the onset of symptoms and...
Ten district health department areas across the state, including North Central District Health Department, which includes Antelope and Holt counties, will have changes to restrictions on social gatherings and business operations, beginning May 4. Governor Pete Ricketts announced upcoming changes to Directed Health Measures across the state during an April 24 press conference. The current state DHMs for Douglas County will be extended through May 3. Local DHMs from the Sarpy/Cass Health Department and the Douglas County Health Department will al...
All I really needed to know about gardening I learned from my grandparents. Gardening is hard, yet rewarding, work. Planting seeds, caring for tender plants, watering daily and harvesting require patience. You learn to adapt, sometimes you try new things. The end result, though, is worth the time. My Wausa grandparents grew rows of green beans, cucumbers, potatoes and a lot of sunflowers. I remember a few tomato plants, too, although I do not remember Grandma cooking a lot of tomato-based foods....
Kate Hansen Policy assistant, Center for Rural Affairs The deadline for Nebraska farmers and ranchers to apply to the Conservation Stewardship Program is quickly approaching. Interested producers should apply by May 29 and be aware of new safety procedures in place due to the coronavirus. Administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, CSP is a working lands conservation program that offers financial and technical assistance for producers to enhance conservation on their operations. Nebraska leads the country in both new and renewed...
Recently, a friend shared a video with me they were required to watch for class. With little explanation, I clicked the link, which directed me to a Ted Talk titled, “Why does it take so long to grow up today?” The video begins by spewing statistics comparing milestones young people experience from today to 50 years ago. Marriage, children, education and other relatable milestones are compared in the video. As expected, ages where these milestones are reached from 50 years ago to the pre...
MATTHEW ADELMAN National Newspaper Association president We need to get through this time and tighten our belts, just as we have through two World Wars, terrorist attacks and other epidemics Newspapers in the United States have traveled rough seas to the First Amendment freedoms we enjoy today. From the colonial Stamp Act through wartime censorship to today, when thousands of newspapers were slammed with the public health emergency known as COVID-19, people who work for newspapers have never had completely smooth sailing. Now most of the...
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. 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 cruise....
A former O’Neill resident, Leticia R. Bostick, 23, of Bastrop, Texas, was sentenced last week in the Holt County court for crimes committed in 2016. Bostick pleaded guilty in January 2017 to three misdemeanor counts but failed to appear for sentencing in March 2017. A warrant was issued by then judge of the county court Allen Brodbeck. The warrant was recalled and a new warrant signed by the Honorable Kale Burdick in March 2019. Bostick faced Burdick electronically last Tuesday, April 21, and was fined $100 for driving during revocation, a C...
On April 21, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced a plan for testing for COVID-19. A public-private partnership will expand testing over several weeks. Per program guidelines, residents will be able to enlist in the program to take an assessment, get tested and track health. "I am excited to roll out our Test Nebraska initiative to accelerate our ability to defeat the virus and get Nebraskans back to work," Ricketts said during a press conference. "Having good data will give us the confidence...
The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce and Summerland Advocate-Messenger will host a cruise night event for the Clearwater Public School class of 2020. Join in the fun, Friday, May 8. Cruise down Main Street, beginning at 7 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. At 8:30, cruisers are asked to park along Main Street. Senior introductions will take place at that time. Participants are asked to use social distance measures and stay in your vehicles. Several other activities are planned in town to show support...
Ewing Public Schools Graduation will be held Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. School officials noted the ceremony will either be a regular graduation ceremony, a limited attendance ceremony or some type of virtual/diploma pick up ceremony. "We will honor the class of 2020, the last graduating class of Ewing Public Schools," according to a statement issued by the school on social media....
Orchard principal Cathy Cooper told Orchard board members that graduation is still planned, when the original and advisory boards met recently. She said graduation will “definitely” take place, but factors regarding timing will have to be worked out. Cooper is consulting with other administrators in the Unified district regarding graduation and other end-of-year award ceremonies. “Safety is obviously the first priority,” she said. “We definitely want to recognize our seniors…We’re still planning for graduation…there are just so many things that...
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and has become a time to celebrate Mexican culture. While Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a small regional holiday in Mexico, it's become a popular celebration in the United States, recognizing the significant historical and cultural contributions of Mexico and Mexican-Americans. To make merry on this occasion, serve empanadas, a popular Mexican street food, or some tasty...
The Holt County supervisors approved hiring a human resource firm when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill on April 16. With all seven supervisors in attendance at the meeting, the leaders voted 5-2 to contract with Zelle Human Resources of Lincoln to provide consulting services for an initial six-month term, after holding a phone conference with Zelle representative Chad Thies. Supervisors Bob Snyder and Don Butterfield voted nay. According to Thies, the firm would update the county’s employee handbook, making sure it is relevant and mak...
A third case of COVID-19 has been identified in Antelope County. North Central District Health Department, in O'Neill, was made aware of a positive COVID-19 case. The individual and their family are in quarantine. The case is due to work-related travel in Dawson County, where a high incident of confirmed cases exists and community spread is present. As of noon, Thursday, April 30, 424 cases have tested positive in Dawson County; 844 individuals have been tested there. NCDHD has initiated...
North Central District Health Department was made aware of the first positive COVID-19 case in Holt County. The individual resides in Holt County but is currently in quarantine outside of the district. The case was exposed in a county outside of the NCDHD district and has not been in the district for one and one-half weeks prior to symptoms. All close contacts have been identified and contacted. The risk to the communities of Holt County from this positive case is none. NCDHD would like to reiterate to our district communities that though this...
