Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Country star Nate Smith knows a thing or two about fire. In 2018, he lost everything he owned in the wildfires which whipped through Paradise, California, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history. Despite being safe, Smith found it difficult to adjust to the devastation and turned to music. He wrote "One of These Days," about his experiences, hoping it would resonate with others. The song caught on, going viral. Soon, Smith found himself singing at benefit concerts...
A new Miss Clearwater Rodeo Queen will reign over the 57th annual Clearwater Big Rodeo. Three contestants - Jozlyn Anderson, Luci Koinzan, and Aubrey Blackburn - will compete for the title. The three will start competition Friday, at 2 p.m., on rodeo grounds. Queen contest chairman Devon Baum said contestants will be judged in multiple areas, including personality, appearance and horsemanship. Contestants will compete in the horsemanship portion of the contest, which includes a reining pattern,...
Early on a hot, summer Monday morning, a string of cars line Nebraska Street in Clearwater. They slip out of their vehicles and trek across a driveway to a mint-green stand, complete with crock pots, mini fridge and drop box. The sign in front of it says it all: Self serve stand open. Welcome to Rollin' Farm Stand, the brainchild of Haily Schlecht. It's a little bit produce stand, a little bit grab-and-go food source. No matter how it's labeled, it's filling Clearwater residents' stomachs with...
It’s almost “the best weekend in June.” Are we having fun yet? With the exception of contestant pages, the rodeo program has been at the printer for almost two weeks. Hallelujah! There are plenty of noticable changes. At the rodeo grounds, the bull - formerly part of the old steakhouse sign - towers above the entrance, foreshadowing action visitors are about to view. The bull’s devilish facial expression may be a nod to Laredo, the infamous bull that reveled in jumping the fence in the early d...
The countdown is on for the best weekend in June as rough and tumble action will take center stage at the 57th annual Clearwater's Big Rodeo. Competition begins Friday, June 28 and continues through Sunday, June 30, at the Gene Snodgrass arena, located along U.S. Highway 275. Clearwater Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annual event. Rodeo visitors will see a few new additions on the grounds. Clearwater Chamber president Curt Thiele said the rodeo committee and chamber members continue to make...
Call-ins for mutton busting for the 56th annual Clearwater Rodeo will be Monday, June 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. To enter, call Elly Herley at 402-640-9738. Text messages will not be accepted. Participants must be 3 to 7 years of age. Each night, 15 spots will be reserved for call-ins. The remaining 10 spots will go to walk-in participants who register the night of the rodeo. Organizers suggest individuals wanting to register the evening of the rodeo should arrive early. Mutton busting will begin at...
Felycia Kerkman of Atkinson, Miss Clearwater Rodeo 2023, was crowned Nebraska High School Rodeo Association Queen, June 15, at the 2024 championships in Burwell. First runner-up was Claudia Rhodes from Big Springs. Kerkman won six of nine competition categories, including appearance, speech, horsemanship, modeling, personality and congeniality. Other categories in the contest include interview, test and impromptu question. Kerkman will advance to the queen competition at the National High...
Country music artist Tim Zach never imagined he would one day be sharing the stage with the greatest musicians in the industry. A Wisconsin native, Zach went to college to study policing science with the aspiration to become a police officer. However, he soon realized law enforcement was not for him so he made the move to retail sales. He worked in retail for another decade and didn't get his break until he was in his 30s, when he was named the "Best New Country Act in Nebraska." Years later, Za...
Young women ages 14 to 24 are invited to apply for the Miss Clearwater Rodeo contest. Applications are due by June 14 and are available by contacting Devon Baum, contest director, at [email protected] or texting or calling 402-843-0446. The queen contest will be held Friday, June 28. Candidates will take part in mutton bustin' activities as Clearwater's Big Rodeo kicks off its 57th annual event. According to Baum, contestants will vie for several awards, including horsemanship,...
When you think of the word "veteran," who comes to mind? For many Clearwater residents, the term may be associated with a family member, a next-door neighbor or a teacher who bravely served this great nation. These veterans have earned undying gratitude for the sacrifices made. Last summer, a group of civic-minded residents began discussions to create a spot honoring area veterans. The first step: painting a mural on the south wall of the library on Aug. 19. That task was followed with...
Summerland Advocate-Messenger personnel brought home 23 awards from the 2023 Better Newspaper Contest for the Nebraska Press Association. Awards were presented Saturday evening, at the awards banquet held at the Cornhusker Marriot Hotel in Lincoln. SAM finished second in Class A, which includes weekly newspapers with a circulation up to 699 subscriptions. The Stanton Register won the division. In advertising categories, publisher LuAnn Schindler won seven awards. An ad featuring financial services at Brunswick State Bank, promoting FFA Week,...
The 2024 headliner for the Clearwater Rodeo concert will "set Clearwater's world on fire." Nashville artist Nate Smith will perform at 10 p.m., June 29, on Clearwater's Main Street. Luke Mills will kick off the concert at 8 p.m., followed by Noah Hicks at 9. Tickets will be available online at clearwaterrodeo.com/tickets, for $25. Tickets may also be purchased for cash only, for $35, the evening of the event. Smith's popularity skyrocketed in 2020, after his song "Wildfire" went viral on...
Clearwater Chamber members Jeremy Sanne, Curt Thiele and Clay Thiele, (along with others not pictured) help with the removal of the L-Bar-B Steakhouse sign, Jan. 10, in Clearwater. New owners of the establishment, Brian Ferris and Mike Tabbert, said a new sign for Two Bills Steakhouse will be installed in the near future. The iconic bull won't move far as it will become part of the Clearwater Rodeo grounds....
Since we're writers, we, at SAM love lists. Trust us, we keep and use them every single day. But, how does one determine which articles should be at the top of the yearly list? In the past, we've based it by reader count from our website. This year, we're still relying on reader count, featuring the top-read article by month. We wrote nearly 2,000 articles in 2023 and, while some of our favorites don't appear on the list, we're sure these are a newsworthy representation of the Summerland region....
PROCEEDINGS FOR BUDGET HEARING, TAX REQUEST HEARING, REGULAR MEETING VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES September 11, 2023 The board of trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a budget hearing Monday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Hearing opened at 7 p.m. Notice of hearing was given in advance by publication in "Summerland Advocate-Messenger," was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of...
Five of about a dozen area residents, who were cited for possessing open alcohol containers July 3, waived court appearances and have each paid a $50 fine and $49 costs. They include Neligh residents Jaryd L. Montgomery, 32, Jamie L. Montgomery, 31, Scott N. Jacob, 46, Cory Coover, 50, and Ewing resident Riley Funk, 27. They were cited by a Nebraska State Patrol officer in a Neligh neighborhood near the intersection of M and 9th streets. Several individuals remain on the Aug. 16 Antelope County court docket. Austin R. Bertschinger, 30, of...
The best rough stock riders return to Clearwater, Saturday, July 22, as the local chamber of commerce hosts the third-annual Clearwater Rough Stock Challenge. Competition is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Gene Snodgrass Arena, located along West Highway 275. A calcutta will be held at 7 p.m., prior to the first event. Elgin Livestock auctioneer, Ted Baum, will handle auction duties. Stock for the challenge will be provided by Justin Boots, with Rocking Plus Rodeo Company. Local businesses...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS Village of Clearwater BOARD OF TRUSTEES July 10, 2023 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, July 10, at 8 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 8 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in “Summerland Advocate-Messenger,” posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Ker...
The irons will be hot, Wednesday, July 19, but there won't be a herd of cattle waiting to be branded. Instead, rodeo enthusiasts and Clearwater Chamber of Commerce members are invited to bring a branding iron and leave a mark on the support beams in front of the new building at the Clearwater rodeo grounds, located along West Highway 275. The event is a prelude to Saturday's rough stock challenge, slated to start with a calcutta at 7 p.m. Branding will begin at 7 p.m. Cost will be $100 per...
Almost four decades ago, two coaches - one from the east coast, the other from the land of the Cornhuskers - formed an alliance. Maine and Nebraska would become as thick as thieves. Despite the large differences between the two states, a friendship was pinned down and has lasted for years. Lincoln Southeast wrestling coach, Mick Pierce, and Maine's, Wally LaFountain, a wrestling official from Maine, met in the 80s during a wrestling trip to Europe, according to current Maine coach Brian Cote....
Two hundred-plus cowboys and cowgirls converged on Clearwater, June 23 to 25, entertaining large crowds during the three nights of rough-and-tumble competition. More than 50 took home prize money and bragging rights from the 56th annual Clearwater Rodeo, which drew large crowds each evening, according to Clearwater Chamber of Commerce president Curt Thiele. "The crowds are absolutely amazing. We built a church for roughly 3,500 people and who would think some nights we need more spacing."...
Another year, another successful Clearwater Rodeo in the books. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, it takes an entire village to work together to put on one of the greatest shows on dirt. Thank you to every person who volunteered to make the weekend a success. Whether you sold program advertising, worked in the concession stand, assisted with construction of the new chamber facility, ran chutes, worked security detail or picked up trash, your help is genuinely appreciated. Vol...
Dillon Micheel, of Grand Island, accepts a $1,000 check from Jarod and Tammy Bearinger, owners of Bearinger Tax & Accounting, LLC, in Clearwater. Micheel received the bonus after surviving an eight-second ride, Sunday, at Clearwater's Big Rodeo....
Cowboys and cowgirls attending the 56th annual Clearwater Big Rodeo will notice improvements on the rodeo grounds, situated along West Highway 275. A new 40-foot by 50-foot building, featuring a rodeo office, kitchen, meeting area, shop and shower, was approved by Clearwater Chamber of Commerce membership in December. Chamber vice president Jeremy Sanne said, "The building will benefit workers, especially for cleaning and keeping all supplies on the rodeo grounds." Many chamber members...
Two contestants will compete for the Miss Clearwater Rodeo title, this Friday, at the 56th edition of Clearwater's Big Rodeo. Queen contest chairman Devon Baum said contests will be judged in several areas, including personality, appearance and horsemanship. Luci Koinzan, of Neligh, and Felycia Kerkman, of Atkinson, will begin competition Friday, at 2 p.m., in the Gene Snodgrass Arena at the rodeo grounds. Contestants will compete in the horsemanship portion of the contest, which includes a...
