Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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One of the great benefits of living in a rural community is our ability to enjoy food grown locally. Families appreciate easy access to high quality nutrition. Many farms and ranches depend on these local sales. Like so much of our daily life, this system was disrupted by COVID-19. When work is interrupted at industrial processing facilities, commodity producers flood local meat lockers with their product. With already limited reservation space being taken up by large growers, those who depend...
Emotions ran high again this week, as legislators tried to complete their priorities during the last few days of this legislative session. As I had hoped, the Revenue Committee advanced a package that joined property tax relief, business tax incentives and a major project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This proposal was contained in a compromise amendment to LB 1107, a placeholder bill introduced by the Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk. The current Property T...
Only one of the three Summerland Public Schools sites has seen much in the way of building repair projects this summer. The school locations in Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard underwent normal summer cleaning, repair and maintenance, according to Superintendent Dale Martin. "In addition to that, there have been some building repair projects necessary to get us to the next step," Martin said. "The Orchard site has a sewer project where a line was getting plugged fairly regularly last year during...
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...
The Legislature passed the budget bills this past week, containing their recommendations for adjustments to the biennial budget that was passed last year. Now it will be up to the governor whether he signs the legislation or uses his line-item veto authority. Earlier in the week, senators gave second-round approval to the budget bills after a lengthy debate. An amendment to LB 1008 was offered by Omaha Senator Machaela Cavanaugh to direct how the remaining funding from the federal Coronavirus...
Superintendent Dale Martin shared the following information with Summerland families, July 28. Our district administrative team and the Summerland Board of Education, in consultation with the North Central District Health Department, Nebraska Department of Education and following the Center for Disease Control guidelines, is planning to start the 2020-2021 school year with in-person, normal instruction, Aug. 13. The schools of Summerland - Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard - will operate within the...
With fall hunting seasons coming up, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters of temporary Hunter Education changes from which they can benefit. Until further notice, online-only Hunter Education courses, without the Hunt Safe Session requirement, is allowed for ages 11 and older in Nebraska. Youth ages 11-15 who take the online Hunter Education course normally are required to attend a two-hour Hunt Safe Session before they can receive a certificate of completion. That Hunt Safe Session requirement temporarily has been waived...
Luna Stephens and Katie Anderson Nebraska News Service During the Nebraska Legislature’s second week back in session, senators advanced the state’s budget to final reading. Senators also attempted to bring new pieces of legislation to address pandemic-related issues like evictions and regulations for meatpacking workers. State budget Senators advanced two state budget bills to final reading on July 28 including $55.2 million for damage from the 2019 floods, $10 million to the rural workforce housing investment fund and $3.7 million inc...
Luna Stephens and Katie Anderson Nebraska News Service Senators passed two state budget bills on July 31 including $55.2 million for damage from the 2019 floods, $10 million to the rural workforce housing investment fund and $3.7 million increase in developmental disability provider rates. LB1008, presented by Speaker Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk at the request of Gov. Pete Ricketts, is the $9.4 billion mainline state budget bill. After final reading, bills are submitted to the governor. The governor must sign, veto or line item veto the budget...
North Central District Health Department has been made aware of five additional positive COVID-19 cases in the district. One case in Cherry County is currently under investigation. One case in Holt County is due to direct contact with a positive individual. All close contacts have been contacted and asked to quarantine. One case in Knox County is due to community spread and all close contacts have been identified and asked to quarantine. One case in Pierce County is due to community spread and...
State senators resumed the legislative session July 20, after breaking for almost four months due to coronavirus. We are set to complete this 60-day session Aug. 13. During this first week back, we immediately began debating the major issues left pending. Senators voted 30-8 to pull LB 814 from the Judiciary Committee and place it on General File so it can be debated. LB 814 would prohibit live dismemberment abortion and provide for criminal penalties for physicians who perform such abortions....
The Nebraska Legislature reconvened on July 20, after a break of more than four months due to the pandemic. When we recessed, we had 17 working days remaining to debate and pass legislation, and those days have been moved to late July through early August in order to complete our work. While things could always change again, we are currently slated to work through the 13th of August to finish out the 60 working days of our session. In the intervening weeks and months, many Nebraskans have had...
The Nebraska School Activities Association is preparing to begin the 2020 fall sports season as currently scheduled. First practices for football, volleyball, cross country, girls' golf, boys' tennis and softball are set to begin Aug. 10. "The health and safety of our student participants, coaches and officials has been our priority as we work to provide activities for our member schools," the association said in a press release. "This will not change and modifications may have to be made. Pleas...
Summerland schools will have a normal opening, Aug. 13. Superintendent Dale Martin made the announcement Monday during the board of education's regular meeting. He distributed information about a health dial, which rates risk for COVID-19. The dial consists of green, yellow, orange and red levels. North Central District Health Department will be creating a district-specific dial, according to Martin. It will change on a week-by-week basis. Holt and Antelope counties are currently in the green....
North Central District Health Department reported Monday it has been made aware of six additional COVID-19 cases in the region. Four cases in Antelope County, though not all contact-related to one another, are result of direct contacts with positive cases. All direct contacts have been contacted and asked to quarantine. All cases are at home in isolation. One case in Antelope County is due to community spread, which has been present in the county. The individual is in isolation at home. All direct contacts have been contacted and asked to...
After much consideration, the Holt County Ag Society has made a decision regarding events for the 2020 Holt County Fair. Due to the nature of the Covid-19 virus and restrictions required to be in compliance with today’s health guidelines, the Holt County Ag Society has moved to reschedule all entertainment events to the 2021 fair dates. Open class events at the 2020 fair, including the dog show and junior exhibits, will not be held. The Holt County Extension office will still offer 4-H and FFA events, with changes in the schedule to be a...
St. Peter Lutheran Fellowship Hall, in Orchard, will be the site for a blood drive, scheduled for Monday, July 20. Donations will be accepted between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Rita Shabram will contact donors to make appointments. She may be reached at 402-893-2691. Donors may also make an appointment on the blood donor app or by visiting redcrossblood.org and searching for the Orchard drive. Social distancing guidelines will be in place. Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins will be accepted only...
The 4-H division of the Antelope County Fair will have a different look in 2020. Tessa Hain, 4-H youth development coordinator, said, extension personnel appreciate input for how fair events will look due to COVID-19 concerns. “We had to make some tough decisions to put on a safe fair for all of our youth and for our community,” she wrote in a July 1 email. “We are really happy that we can get together face to face to celebrate our 4-Hers and their hard work.” On Sunday, July 12, shooting sports...
The Holt County supervisors finalized seating of a board of adjustment when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 30. Vice chair Steve Boshart presided, due to the potential for board of adjustment action related to TC Energy matters, with which chairman Bill Tielke has a declared conflict of interest. Clayton Goeke of Atkinson was selected, by written ballot from a pool of three interested citizens, to serve as the alternate board member. Goeke garnered three votes, Cheri Frisch of Atkinson, two, and Tom Schaaf of Lynch, non...
Six of seven defendants who faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday morning, July 1, when she presided from the bench in the Antelope County court, faced charges stemming from alleged fights. If convicted of their individual third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent charges, they each face a possible fine of up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both, for the Class 2 misdemeanor. Hugo Estrada, 28, and Smokie J. Pike, 24, who resided in Neligh for the past several months, were cited for a May 3 fight at their residence. Pike pleaded...
NEBRASKA NEWS SERVICE The Small Business Administration, on Monday, released some details about 4,179 Nebraska businesses that took out Paycheck Protection Program loans of $150,000 or more. The Small Business Administration did not report the exact amount each business took out in loans, offering a range that the loan fell into. Only loans of $150,000 or more were reported. Of the 4,179 loans, 2,394 of them were for the lowest range, $150,000 to $350,000. Statewide, 36 businesses got loans of $5 million to $10 million. Orchard loans reported...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE Although COVID-19 canceled the in-person State FFA Convention in Lincoln this year, FFA members have still been able to participate in virtual events. In December, four members qualified for the state convention in leadership development events. These students were able to compete in events virtually last week. Results were announced July 2, via Facebook Live. Ashley Melcher received a bronze medal for her ag literacy speech. Receiving a silver medal was Carlee Livingston in...
After months of planning and rescheduling, Ewing Public School students will have a prom. The event will take place Friday, July 17 at St. Dominic's Hall. The theme is Las Vegas Nights and members of the junior class will decorate Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The traditional grand march will still take place at 6:30 p.m., Friday, after sponsor Jan Miller takes pictures at 6. Audience members are asked to remain in their vehicles while students walk along the sidewalk, showing their outfits. Before...
While the 53rd version of Clearwater's Big Rodeo will look familiar, several adaptations will be in place because of COVID-19 concerns. According to Clearwater Chamber of Commerce President Curt Thiele, the organization has worked hand-in-hand with North Central District Health Department personnel to develop a plan so the rodeo would come to fruition. "We're taking precautions," Thiele said, noting hand sanitizer will be available and facilities will be disinfected every two hours. Social...
The Fourth of July is only a few days away and one Ewing business is prepared to ignite everyone's passion for all things pyrotechnic. RTS Fireworks, located at Rotherham Tire Service, at 201 E. Nebraska Street, in Ewing, opened June 24 and is on pace to have a banner year. Owner Eddie Rotherham said he has operated the stand for nine years. His daughter, Hailey, assists. Rotherham added his sons "used to be some of his best customers." Prior to opening RTS Fireworks, Ewing Volunteer Fire and Re...
