Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 128
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...
Sometimes, intuition and curiosity take you down a rabbit hole. Last week, in this column, I wrote about my maternal great-great-grandmother and mentioned I didn’t know much about my paternal great-grandparents. First, though, a little backstory. I know my grandmother’s parents - Henry and Mary - owned the movie theater in Wausa. Great-grandpa was quite an entrepreneur. He built a miniature golf course there in the early 1900s, farmed and raised hogs at the family farm about two miles out of...
The formation of clay into functioning vessels dates back thousands of years. Add a present-day artist’s interest in fossils and an archaic collaboration is created. For Kaci Schacht, the 23 year-old artist/owner of Mug Schacht’s, inspiration is found close to home. “Dinosaurs have always fascinated me and maybe growing up near Ashfall (Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, located near Royal) had something to do with that,” reflected Schacht, “and having a mom who loves art.” Her mom, Te...
Rodeo-goers ooh and ahh as riders cling to bucking stock or bulls, hoping to see an eight-second ride. What spectators do not see behind the scenes is the importance quality stock plays in providing an evening of rodeo entertainment. For 52 years, Hollenbeck Rodeo Company, owned by Squeek and Maureen Hollenbeck, of Winner, South Dakota, has supplied stock for rodeos throughout the Mid-States Rodeo Association area, including 42 years as the provider for Clearwater's Big Rodeo. Rodeo is a...
Brooke Lehr, of Columbus, earned the title of Miss Clearwater Rodeo 2020. Lehr was crowned by retiring queen Ashleigh Nelson, of Tilden, during the July 10 opening of Clearwater's Big Rodeo. Competition began in the afternoon, with arena work, including horsemanship, flag presentation and herding. Individual interviews concluded the judging process. Morgan Erhardt, of Orchard, was named runner-up. Josey Booth, of Neligh, received the personality award. The Miss Congeniality award was presented...
Four individuals will vie for the title of Miss Clearwater Rodeo 2020 during Friday's opening evening of rodeo competition. The winner will reign over the 53rd annual event, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, July 10 to 12. Taylor Bolling, of Clearwater; Josey Booth, Neligh; Morgan Erhardt, Orchard and Brooke Lehr, of Columbus, will be judged in horsemanship, congeniality and appearance categories. Prior to Friday's 7:30 p.m. rodeo opening, awards for all categories will be announced, in...
This is my favorite time of year. Sweet summer is in full swing, sun lights the sky until late evening, we fire up the grill nightly and outdoor activities occupy spare time. Summertime means my favorite holiday is only a few days away. I have always preferred the Fourth of July to other holidays. It reminds me of family time, baseball games, picnic lunches, swimming and fireworks. What’s more perfect than that? My all-time favorite Fourth story includes a family softball game at my g...
Funeral services for Renee Snodgrass, 68, of Clearwater, will be Wednesday, June 3, at 2 p.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, with Rev. B.J. Fouts officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Clearwater, with no family present. Inurnment will take place at Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Neligh, at a later date. Social distancing and Covid-19 DHMs, effective June 1, will be followed at both the visitation and funeral. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Le...
Funeral services for Renee Snodgrass, 68, of Clearwater, will be Wednesday, June 3, at 2 p.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, with Rev. B.J. Fouts officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Clearwater, with no family present. Inurnment will take place at Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Neligh, at a later date. Social distancing and Covid-19 DHMs, effective June 1, will be followed at both the visitation and funeral. Renee died...
Powdery particles of soil sifted through the air Friday afternoon, as school officials broke ground on the Summerland school project. Summerland Board Committee members, along with original boards of education from Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard, each tossed a shovel full of earth to commemorate the occasion, while practicing social distancing measures throughout the ceremony. Dirt work on the site, situated at the intersection of 513 Avenue and Summerland Road, began nearly six weeks ago....
June 30 retirement of longtime Antelope County clerk of the district court, Judy Cole was announced during the April 14 meeting of the Antelope County commissioners. The meeting was held via video conference, with commissioner Eli Jacob and chairman Charlie Henery present in the meeting room, along with clerk Lisa Payne. Commissioners Dean Smith, Regina Krebs and Carolyn Pedersen participated remotely via Zoom. Sheriff Bob Moore, county attorney Joe Abler, zoning administrator Liz Doerr and...
TESSA HAIN 4-H Youth Development Coordinator What do you think of when you hear 4-H? Do you think of showing animals, the fair, crafts and that 4-H is for just farm kids? Well, think again. 4-H is more than just showing animals or making crafts to bring to fair. It is about lifelong friendships, spending time with family, learning new skills and becoming the best person possible. 4-H is a youth development organization for kids, ages 5 to18 years old, as of Jan. 1. There are more than 150 different projects 4-H has to offer, so there is a...
Funeral services for Joan C. Stearns, 84, of Clearwater were held Saturday, Feb. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church of rural Clearwater, with Father James Kramper officiating. Burial was in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater handled the arrangements. Joan died Feb. 12, at Antelope Memorial Hospital, in Neligh. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.snidermemorialfh.com. ~~~ Joan Cecelia (Mlnarik) Stearns, daughter of Joseph F. and Cecelia H. Mlnarik, was born July 30, 1935, at hom...
Funeral services for Mary Ann Thiele, 87, of Clearwater, will be Saturday, Feb. 29, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Clearwater, with Father John Norman and Father James Kramper officiating. Burial will be at St. Theresa's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, with a 7 p.m. wake service. Mary Ann died Sunday, Feb. 23, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Snider Memorial Funeral Home is handling the...
The stereotype was established more than a century ago. Home economics curriculum focused on making life at home more efficient and included coursework covering nutrition, cooking, sewing construction and child care. In fact, The Morrill Act of 1862, which established land-grant colleges, led to the offering of domestic science courses adapted for farmers' wives, who were expected to maintain the household while assisting with the family farm. By 1945, home economics leaders pushed for the...
Almost 500 new bills were introduced by members of the Legislature during the first 10 days of the legislative session. Each proposed legislation will have a public hearing before the relevant committee. The public hearing process has already started and will continue through February. I introduced five bills this year. The first three will have public hearings next week before the Natural Resources Committee and the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. LB 769 requires that each...
David Willats, 91, of rural Orchard, died Thursday, Jan. 23. Services were held Monday, Jan. 27, at Cornerstone Bible Church in Orchard. Ashburn Funeral Home in Orchard was in charge of arrangements. ~~~ David Lloyd George Willats was born to Robert and Florence (Moore) Willats on May 9, 1928, in Orchard. He graduated from Orchard High School in 1945. He was a veteran of the Korean war. David married Dixie Lea Stevens on Nov. 17, 1956. To this union were born two daughters and two sons. David was a rancher/farmer all his life. He was active in...
Charlie Henery was elected as chair of the Antelope County commissioners for 2020, when they met last week. Henery takes the gavel from Dean Smith, who took on the chairman duties when the former chair was removed from office. Regina Krebs, who was appointed to the board in October 2019, was elected vice chair. Henery and Krebs were each the only nominee for their positions, nominated by commissioners Eli Jacob and Carolyn Pedersen, respectively. Reorganization of the board was delayed until...
It’s late Sunday evening, the wind sounds like a freight train racing through town, and when I glance out the front door, I cannot tell if it is still snowing or if it’s simply blowing what snow already has landed. Scott is stranded at the farm. He tried to make the drive home, but after a mile, the pickup slammed into a drift. Thank God for cell phones and Dad, who brought a tractor to extract the vehicle. Farmers and ranchers never get to experience snow days. Livestock need to be fed and che...
Antelope County Commissioners adopted a new snow removal policy when they met last Tuesday at the courthouse in Neligh. Casey Dittrich, road superintendent, presented the policy that he and road foreman Aaron Boggs have been drafting over the past few weeks, with input from Tim Baxter from the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency, the county’s liability-insurance carrier. Input also came from road crew members and, according to Dittrich, has the “blessing” of county attorney Joe Abler. The policy establishes protocol for the order...
Nebraskans spend $4.4 billion on food, 90% of which is sourced from outside the state. The Nebraska Food Council and the Center for Rural Affairs advocate for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, with inclusion of the Farm to School Act and Kids Eat Local Act, to bring responsible food choices into schools as a way to improve local food access around the state. In spring 2019, Congress signaled an attempt to build a new Child Nutrition Act. This legislation is traditionally revised every five years and, while most program...
Phase one: complete. With last week's successful passage of the Summerland school bond, board of education members from Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard planned to meet Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Ewing, to start phase two of the consolidation and building processes. Ewing Principal Greg Appleby said, "We have a lengthy agenda to discuss a number of items, including policy." Dale Martin, superintendent of Nebraska Unified District #1, which includes Clearwater and Orchard, said a number of items need...
Phase one: complete. With Tuesday's successful passage of the Summerland school bond, board of education members from Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard plan to meet Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Ewing, to start phase two of the consolidation and building processes. Ewing Principal Greg Appleby said, "We have a lengthy agenda to discuss a number of items, including policy." Dale Martin, superintendent of Nebraska Unified District #1, which includes Clearwater and Orchard, said a number of items need to be...
When I submitted my column this past month, I presented the piece to one of my education professors to receive her input. As luck had it, the dissertation she spent three years researching and writing for her doctoral program focused on the transition from high school to college. Furthermore, her research focused on college freshman not being legitimately prepared for the academic struggles college presents. As she read through my article, she circled questions I presented in my writing that...
A funeral Mass for Bernadine Walnofer, 87, of O'Neill, will be at Monday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing with burial to follow at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, south of Ewing. Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 3, from 2 to 4 p.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing, with a rosary at 4 p.m. Bernadine died Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Biglin's...
