Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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North Central District Health Department reported Friday afternoon that the COVID-19 California variant (B.1.429) has been identified in the district. While the California variant is believed to spread more rapidly, the available vaccines are thought to be effective against B.1.429. NCDHD encourages the residents in the district to remain vigilant in fighting the COVID-19 virus by using public health tools: washing hands often, social distancing from others outside the family unit, wearing a...
"We truly supported each other throughout the height of COVID-19 challenges here at Antelope Memorial Hospital," said Marvi Pruden, RN and nursing supervisor. "Everyone was wonderful about coming in as needed and talking through it – laughing through it. This was especially true when we had a high COVID census. It also included when COVID illness caused issues for AMH employees, their families and/or their children's schools/daycares." To help ensure the safety of AMH's employees and p...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION February 15, 2021 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a regular meeting, Monday, Feb. 15, at 12 p.m., at the Ewing site. President Ed Nordby called the meeting, which was published in the February 10, 2021, newspaper, to order at 12 p.m. The Nebraska Open Meetings Act was noted in the room by Nordby. Roll call. Present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steven Thiele, Jeremy Wagner. All board members were present. Possible motion on board member absence....
Governor Ricketts testified before the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee this past week, expressing his support for LB 388, the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Act. The purpose of the program is to facilitate and fund the development of broadband networks in unserved and underserved areas. LB 388 contains intent language to appropriate $20 million annually to the Public Service Commission to be distributed as grants. Providers, cooperatives or political subdivisions could apply for the...
A popular conference, geared toward women in agriculture, will be held this spring at Northeast Community College. Registration is currently underway for the 12th annual Northeast Community College AG-ceptional Women’s Conference – a daylong event to be held Friday, March 12, originating from the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk, with opportunities to attend off campus as well. This year’s conference theme is “AGssential.” The AG-ceptional Women’s Conference - northeast Nebraska’s premier event for women in agri...
Nebraska is in the green, at least when it comes to directed health measures. Governor Pete Ricketts announced Jan. 29 the state would transition from the blue to green phase, effective Jan. 30. The state's pandemic response plan links DHM restrictions to the percentage of staffed hospital beds in Nebraska filled by coronavirus patients. As of Jan. 29, hospital capacity in the state is below 10%, allowing the move to the green phase of the pandemic plan. During Friday morning's press...
An online portal where Nebraskans may register for the coronavirus vaccination debuted recently. During a Monday press conference, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the website launch for vaccinate.nebraska.gov. Ricketts emphasized the state will not administer vaccines on a first come, first serve basis. Instead, the state will follow a vaccination plan introduced Jan. 15. Despite brisk winter weather, vaccinations have been rolling out quickly, with more than 161,000 vaccinations being administered...
I constantly have to encourage myself to be positive and not paranoid during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. When I say positive, I don't mean testing positive for the coronavirus, of course, but rather having an optimistic outlook. It's been difficult for me now and then to not feel defeated by the world we live in, thanks to a disease that seems to be far from done doing damage. The COVID-19 vaccines have made me hopeful that victory over this virus will arrive sooner rather than later, but...
Foresight. Summerland senior Rafe Grebin relied on it prior to Friday's Central Valley Invite. "I knew I needed to pick up at least three wins without any losses to even up my record so that I am seed-able for subdistricts," he said. Once he saw the bracket for the 126-pound division, he realized he wasn't going to get as many matches. He looked at the eight-man bracket and that's when he knew what he needed to do. "At that moment, I realized that I needed to win the tournament. I had to go 3-0...
1. Call meeting to order 1.A. Nebraska Open Meetings Act 1. B. Roll call 1. C. Possible motion on board member absence 2. Approve agenda 3. Public participation (15 minutes allowed) 4. Consent agenda 4.A. Minutes of the Jan. 11 meeting 4. B. Monthly financial report. 5. Old business 5.A. Building construction update 5. B. Review, consider and take all necessary action on the purchase agreement for the Clearwater school building 6. New business 6.A. Review, consider and take all necessary action on obsolete equipment 6.B. Review, consider and...
In early December, the former chair of the executive board, along with chairs of standing committees, sent an email to senators suggesting they limit the number of bills introduced. This would assist with safety measures being developed for senators and the public, in preparation for the legislative session during a pandemic. However, 684 bills were still introduced during 10 days of bill introduction. Although this number was less than the 739 bills in 2019, it was more than the 667 bills...
In late December, Congress passed the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. A lot has happened in the time since, but we believe this legislation deserves a second look. As a joint COVID-19 relief and fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill, funded at $2.3 trillion, this act has strong implications in rural America. Within the spending package, several U.S. Department of Agriculture programs advocated for by the Center for Rural Affairs were included and funded at requested levels. The Rural...
Governor Pete Ricketts' office issued a statement, Monday, following news that the governor had come into close contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. "Gov. Ricketts came into close contact with someone, on Saturday, who tested positive today for coronavirus," said Taylor Gage, director of strategic communications. "The exposure that occurred was work-related. The Ggvernor will complete the required seven-day quarantine. The governor is not showing any symptoms, and will get...
What priorities should be the focus for Clearwater community leaders? According to results of a 2020 community needs assessment survey, housing and roadways top the list. Survey results, compiled by Miller and Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C., of Kearney, were presented Jan. 11 during the village's monthly board of trustees meeting. Ashley Weesner, from Miller & Associates, told trustees 138 surveys were distributed to addresses within village limits. Village volunteers made three attempts...
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regular session Monday, Jan. 11, at 7:07 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger and notice was given to council persons prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kevin Filsinger, Steve Stearns, Kelly Kerkman, Mike Klabenes. Absent: Steve Hankla. Others present: Lauren Sheridan-Simonson, Kate Ahlers, Jenna Hemenway, Ashley Weesner from Miller & Associates,...
Summerland Public School Board of Education held a regular meeting, Jan. 11, 2021, at the Clearwater site. President Ed Nordby called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., and noted the Open Meetings Act posted n the room. Roll call taken. Present: Marty Kerkman, Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steven Thiele, Jeremy Wagner. Absent: Candice Hoke. Motion by Kerkman, seconded by Thiele, to approve the absence of board member Hoke. Voting aye: Kerkman, Nordby, Schwager, Thiele, Wagner. Nay: none. Absent: Hoke. Motion carried 5-0-1. Motion by Thiele,...
Antelope County has a new weed superintendent. The path to hiring for the position met a thorny obstacle along the way. Antelope County Commissioners' Chairman Charlie Henery said, during a Jan. 5 meeting, "The young man we proposed to hire declined." Brian Benson, of Neligh, was initially offered the position during the Dec. 8 commissioners meeting. He declined to accept the job. Bryan Cornett, of Oakdale, was the only other applicant for the full-time weed superintendent's position, which open...
Last week, the Nebraska Unicameral convened the 107th Legislature. On the first day, we elected officers. Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln was unanimously elected speaker and I am very glad to have him serving us. I was honored to be re-elected as chair of the General Affairs Committee, a post I have held the last two years. The General Affairs committee handles subjects as wide ranging as breweries and distilleries, gambling, tobacco, intellectual property, libraries and cemeteries. I have enjoyed...
One photo of my parents captures them in their zone. It’s their wedding anniversary and they’re waltzing. Both are looking directly at the camera, still smiling after 40 years of wedded bliss. They’re definitely in their element. They enjoyed dancing. When King’s Ballroom was still operating in Norfolk, the ‘rents were waltzing around the dance floor. Other couples stopped as Dad and Mom sashayed to the strains of big band tunes, offering an ovation to the young couple when the melody slowed to... Full story
For end-of-the-year columns, it’s customary to recap events of the past 12 months, usually highlighting a mix of good and bad. Because this year has been dominated by health, and my beat is health, it seems fitting to reflect on where we are. Where we are is not good. A headline in the Los Angeles Times seemed to sum up the current state of the U.S. health care system: “Bodies pile up, patient care falters as COVID-19 devastates L.A. County hospitals.” In the Times’ story, a hospital critical care nurse says, “No one would believe this is the U...
North Central District Health Department reported 38 new cases in the district Jan. 4, including: seven, Antelope; 0, Boyd; 0, Brown; one, Cherry; six, Holt; 0, Keya Paha; 15, Knox; nine, Pierce and 0, Rock. NCDHD has received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and is proceeding to disperse vaccine to Phase 1A partners, as outlined in the Nebraska COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. As of Dec. 31, 784 north central Nebraska residents received the first dose of the vaccine. NCDHD will notify the public as the district transitions to each phase. The speed of...
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Summerland Public School Board of Education will hold a regular meeting, Monday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 p.m., at Summerland Public School at Clearwater and will be open to the public. An agenda for the regular meeting is kept continuously current and is available for public inspection at the administrative office in Orchard. Except for items of an emergency nature, the agenda shall not be enlarged later than 24 hours before the scheduled commencement of the meeting. Publish January 7, 2021 ZNEZ AGENDA 1. Call meeting...
If 2020 vision existed, the past year may have turned out differently. Or, maybe we needed this year to define our strengths and guide us toward a revision of what we deem as normal. The year 2020 caused us to slow down and realize what matters most. While coronavirus - and all its implications - dominated the news cycle, other news items drew attention: groundbreaking for the new school site, cruise nights honoring graduates, new businesses opening and surviving a pandemic, pumpkin patches spro...
North Central District Health Department, in O'Neill, has been made aware of 51 new cases in the district since the last report issued Dec. 23. On Monday, NCDHD reported new cases by county, including 12-Antelope; 1-Boyd; 4-Brown; 2-Cherry; 6-Holt; 0-Keya Paha; 15-Knox; 10-Pierce; 1-Rock. NCDHD reports five additional COVID-19 deaths in Pierce County: three women and two men in their 80s. As of Dec. 28, at 4 p.m., case count totals include 3,684 total cases, 1,633 recoveries and 55 deaths. In...
Despite a pandemic that saw life around us change, not everything in 2020 was bad. Advocate-Messenger employees share a personal glimpse of the hope they experienced in 2020 and offer a wish for the new year. ~~~ One of the biggest signs of hope for me was being able to attend in-person classes at Wayne State College. With all the uncertainty in the world, it was a huge relief to know that colleges were taking one of the first steps to give some sense of normalcy to their students. Wish for...
