Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 425
Antelope County residents who want to request ballots for early voting in the 2020 general election soon will run out of time to do so. The deadline for requesting ballots by mail or fax a request to vote early in this year's general election – scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3 – is 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. County residents who want to request ballots in person to vote early, must do so by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the county clerk's office inside the courthouse in Neligh. All ballots for early vot...
Antelope County may need to weed out candidates depending on how many applications it receives from people wanting to replace a longtime employee. The board of commissioners received a letter of resignation from county weed superintendent Bruce Ofe during its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Neligh. The Oakdale man plans to retire from the full-time position Dec. 31 after more than 40 years of working for the county. "I'd be willing to stay that long so that if you get somebody hired, I could help...
Invenergy has requested the permanent closure of a stretch of road near its Thunderhead wind project in southwest Antelope County. County highway superintendent Brian McDonald spoke to the board of commissioners Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Neligh about the renewable energy company's request to close 841 Road between 510 and 511 avenues. "There are two wind tower driveways at the very west end of this," McDonald said. "I think they're probably on the Wheeler side of the county line. "There's also an...
An Antelope County district court civil case has been rescheduled, after a mistrial was called by the Honorable Mark Johnson on Monday, Oct. 5. The case, brought by plaintiff Jennie Schrage of Clearwater, individually, and as administrator of the estate of Cyril Schrage, deceased, was originally filed by the Schrages' attorney Jason Ausman of Ausman Law Firm in Omaha on Feb. 12, 2018, prior to Cyril Schrage's May 29, 2018 death. An amended complaint was filed Sept. 28 by Ausman. Defendants are...
Bruce Ofe is planning to retire from the position of Antelope County weed superintendent. The Oakdale man turned in his letter of resignation to the board of commissioners during their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Neligh. Ofe informed the commissioners he will be retiring effective Dec. 31 of this year. "I have enjoyed my time here these last 40-plus years as part of Antelope County," according to his letter. While he is looking forward to his retirement, Ofe noted he will miss being a part of...
An Antelope County commissioner had several questions about an annual agenda item during the board’s meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8, in Neligh. Commissioner Dean Smith was curious about the 2020 inventories of county personal property, which had been presented to the board the previous week. However, due to the absence of the inventory of the county sheriff’s office at the time, the commissioners delayed acting on the agenda item. “How thoroughly have they been reviewed?” Smith asked about the inv...
Fred Thiele wants to make sure part of a gravel road located near Clearwater is not forgotten by Antelope County. The rural Clearwater resident was the only member of the public to speak up on the county’s one-year and six-year road improvement plan during the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Neligh. Before Thiele gave his input, county highway superintendent Brian McDonald spoke to the commissioners about the road improvement plan and its corresponding map of projects. “This is pa...
A rural Orchard couple have submitted a complaint to Antelope County about an “Engine Braking Prohibited” sign located near their property. The board of commissioners discussed a letter Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Neligh from the Galyen Boettcher Baier PC law firm on behalf of Terry and Patricia Hemenway. According to the letter, dated Aug. 21 and filed Aug. 25 with the county clerk’s office, “It has come to our attention that the Antelope County Road Superintendent is threatening the removal of an ...
Antelope County Commissioners will look at potential road projects, Sept. 1, during the one- and six-year road plan hearing, scheduled for 9:30 a.m., in the commissioners’ meeting room. Antelope County road boss Aaron Boggs said he is “not 100% sure” which projects will be approve. Boggs and highway superintendent Brian McDonald, will share a list of current projects and future upgrades. “Basically, we submit a wish list,” Boggs said. Commissioners will determine which projects get the green...
The selection of a jury for an upcoming trial in an Antelope County civil case will have to be moved from its usual location due to the COVID-19 pandemic. District court clerk Angela Mortensen and county attorney Joe Abler met with the board of commissioners Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the courthouse in Neligh regarding a change in venue for the jury selection. Mortensen requested the board’s permission to rent a facility for the jury selection, which will be scheduled to take one day on Oct. 5. ...
Antelope County has raised its annual financial contribution to the county library association for the first time in three years. The board of commissioners approved an increase for each of the county’s six public libraries during its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the courthouse in Neligh.Board chair Charlie Henery, vice board chair Regina Krebs and commissioner Carolyn Pedersen voted in favor of the raise, while commissioner Dean Smith voted against it. Commissioner Eli Jacob was absent from the...
Antelope County still is looking for a new emergency manager. Part-time county road foreman Casey Dittrich had applied for the position, but he withdrew his application during the board of commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the courthouse in Neligh. County clerk Lisa Payne noted other than Dittrich’s application, which had been discussed at one of the board’s previous meetings in July, she had no new ones to present to the commissioners for consideration. “We advertised and did not...
The Antelope County Board of Commissioners has approved a road-use agreement for the duration of potential construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. However, the board’s decision was neither quick nor unanimous, as the commissioners discussed the agreement for about an hour and 40 minutes during their nearly five-hour meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the courthouse in Neligh. Board chair Charlie Henery and commissioners Eli Jacob and Carolyn Pedersen approved the agreement as presented, while v...
Fred Thiele wants to make sure part of a gravel road located near Clearwater is not forgotten by Antelope County. The rural Clearwater resident was the only member of the public to speak up on the county’s one-year and six-year road improvement plan during the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Neligh. Before Thiele gave his input, county highway superintendent Brian McDonald spoke to the commissioners about the road improvement plan and its corresponding map of projects. “This is pa...
As the 2020-2021 fiscal year neared its second month, Antelope County leaders started their annual budget work with a special workshop meeting last week at the courthouse in Neligh. The budget must be submitted to the state by Sept. 20, with a public hearing required prior to its adoption. Although values won't be certified until later in the month, Assessor Kelly Meuller-Oltjenbruns has unofficially reported about a 3% decrease in valuation countywide. Commissioners reviewed department's...
A community journalist with Nebraska ties joined the Advocate-Messenger staff, July 22. Mark Mahoney, an Omaha native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, will cover the Antelope County Commissioners and general beat articles. Originally a biochemistry major, Mahoney realized science wasn't for him after taking a 100-level biochemistry class aimed at weeding out people from that program. "I looked at other possible majors and I realized I was a good writer, so I considered English and...
The Antelope County commissioners voted, last week, to issue $3 million in bonds to repair county roads. All five commissioners voted aye to a motion made by commissioner Carolyn Pedersen, seconded by commissioner Eli Jacob, late in an eight-hour meeting at the courthouse in Neligh on July 14. Proceeds from bonds will allow county employees to complete projects totaling more than $2.5 million yet this calendar year, road superintendent Aaron Boggs told the Advocate-Messenger. "Big-money" overlay...
Antelope County commissioners worked a little closer to resolving a plethora of road issues last week, although no decision was reached for bonding more work. The bulk of the July 7 meeting at the courthouse in Neligh was dedicated to county roads, in one form or another. After clearing the agenda of other business and more than an hour of discussion with road superintendent Aaron Boggs, an unofficial agreement was reached, giving Boggs direction to move forward with work on four heavily...
Twenty-nine-forty – an accounting code that identifies an Antelope County Law Enforcement Center fund – has become a familiar term during Antelope County commissioner dialog, as well as a point of contention between county officials. The “special revenue” account was formed after the Law Enforcement Center went into operation in 2015. In the ensuing years, the balance in the account has grown to more than $400,000 from fees charged for housing prisoners from other counties and law enforcement services provided to several Antelope County...
Angela Mortensen of Neligh has been appointed clerk of the district court in Antelope County, effective July 1. Mortensen, who has served as deputy clerk for more than 25 years, will serve the balance of the term of office, until January 2023, currently held by Judy Cole, who will retire June 30. Mortensen was appointed by a panel of four Antelope County commissioners Tuesday morning after applicants were interviewed. Questions were directed to three applicants, Mortensen, Tabitha Kerkman and...
Antelope County commissioners approved an upgrade to security technology at the Antelope County Jail when they met at the courthouse in Neligh last week. After hearing some security-sensitive information during an executive session called on the advice of county attorney Joe Abler, the board heard a presentation by Rick Scheer with Control Masters, an Omaha technology company. Scheer said Control Masters is one of just a few companies in the country that provide corrections’ electronic services and he was asked to resolve some security e...
According to the New York Public Library directors, “The Snowy Day” is the most checked out book from their collection. Using data retrieved from their circulatory system, they were able to compile this information. Both the Orchard Public Library and the Clearwater Public Library use computer systems to keep track of all their information. The systems keep track of all books in a library’s circulation, when a book is checked out or renewed and the number of times a book is checked out. Conco...
Charlie Henery, chairman of the Antelope County board of commissioners, told his peers, when they met at the courthouse last Tuesday, June 2, that the condition of a road north of Clearwater embarrassed him. Discussion on 854 Road began as commissioner Eli Jacob asked the road superintendent his timeline for grinding a two mile stretch of 516 Avenue, from Clearwater north to the cemetery. Road boss Aaron Boggs said he first needed to know "where we're going with it." "Well, we either have to...
Summerland Advocate-Messenger publisher, LuAnn Schindler, earned three awards and partnered with SAM designer Jenna Hemenway for a fourth honor, during the National Federation of Press Women's virtual Professional Communications Contest ceremony, Saturday, June 6. Usually the culminating activity of the organization's annual convention, this year's ceremony was held on Zoom, with approximately 200 members logging in. Schindler took top honors in personality profile, less than 500 words. Her...
The days of a gentlemen’s handshake sealing a deal between county and village officials is over. Antelope County road superintendent Aaron Boggs, along with county commissioners Eli Jacob and Carolyn Pedersen, discussed signing an interlocal agreement for road repairs with the Clearwater Village Board of Trustees, Monday. The condition of 516 Avenue, which runs along the eastern edge of Clearwater, stemmed the discussion. Boggs said the road “has had problems in the past.” He suggested grind...
