Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 48 of 48
Brian G. Tibbens, 51, of Elgin, appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, April 27, for a restitution hearing and sentencing on a Class 2A felony, first-degree assault. Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler called Cynthia Cadena to the witness stand. Cadena testified that her husband, Frank Cadena, the victim of Tibbens’ assault, had been unable to work, going without pay for two weeks following the September 2021 assault. She also answered questions regarding medical b...
The public had an opportunity to hear platforms of four candidates vying for the District 40 legislative seat, last Thursday, during a forum held in Plainview. Barry DeKay, of Niobrara; Robert Johnston, of Clearwater; Keith Kube, of Crofton and Mark Patefield, of Laurel participated in the 90-minute event. Farm Bureau sponsored the forum, which was moderated by Chad Moyer, of the Rural Radio Network. Candidates were given two minutes to respond to questions submitted by audience members. While...
A trip to the Verdigre Stockyards turned into an FFA district championship, years later, for Summerland student Levi Cronk, of Page. Cronk said, "I ended up walking out of the sale barn with two new boer goats." The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Now, Cronk owns a herd of 20-plus goats. "That is not including the new kids, or baby goats, I've had this year," he said. Earlier this year, Cronk's goat production entrepreneurship project received first gold and district champion. His...
Gerardo Jimenez-Jimenez, 25, of O’Neill was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek, in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill, on Monday for his conviction of two Class 3A felony counts of intentional child abuse. He was sentenced to 30 months in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, on each count, with credit given for 48 days served previously. The prison terms are ordered to be served concurrently. Provided he loses none of his good time, Jimenez-Jimenez must serve 15 months, less 48...
“Kids believe in Santa; adults believe in childhood.” Author Cate Kennedy hits the mark with that line from her short story collection, “Dark Roots.” Last week, while Scott, Elizabeth and I fulfilled Santa’s elf duty, stuffing toys, candy and fruit into brown paper sacks, visions from Christmases past reminded me of the good ol’ days and what days leading up to the holiday were like during the age of flower power and groovy, man. In Clay Center, Santa Claus made an appearance on Saturdays i...
It's early summer and a Lakota woman stares into the trees, deep past the leaves and their shadows, her dark eyes misting up. Norma LeRoy tries to understand why a school secretary cut her two little girls' hair without her consent in the spring of 2020. The secretary was checking for lice, LeRoy was told - lice the mother said they never found. LeRoy feels like few in this remote region of Cherry County understand what they took. It's why the 36-year-old Rosebud Sioux has to turn away from her...
Christen Curtis does not remember a time when horses haven't been part of her life. The Royal native said participating in the Antelope County 4-H horse show has always been "a family thing." "My sister, Cassidy, did it. My dad did it when he was young. He started my sister in it." The senior-to-be at Creighton Public Schools said once all the Curtis kids were old enough to ride in the competition, they loaded the horses and gear and the show became part of the family's routine. "My sister...
A decision on an appeal regarding TC Energy's application for a pipeline construction permit in Holt County will wait a little longer. Following nearly 3 and one-half hours of testimony by 60 individuals during a public hearing Oct. 29, at O'Neill's community center, the Holt County board of adjustment recessed until Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. In February, Holt County supervisors voted to deny the permit, until conditions laid out by the county planning commission, are met. In denying the permi...
"You say you are not a monster. You are wrong. You are." Those were words the Honorable Mark Johnson had for Roger D. Stuckwisch in the Antelope County district courtroom last Wednesday morning, before he passed sentence on the former Tilden resident who was convicted of six crimes in a sexual assault case with victims as young as four years of age. Stuckwisch was sentenced to the Nebraska Department of Corrections for not less than 30 years, nor more than 40 years on his conviction of...
Funeral services for Jan Dewalt Curtis, 79, of Creighton, were Saturday, October 31, at the Royal gymnasium in Royal. Bob Moore officiated, with burial in Royal Cemetery in Royal. Jan died Monday, Oct. 26, at Avera Creighton Hospital. ~~~ Jan Dewalt Curtis was born to Fremont and Mayola Curtis, on the family farm southeast of Royal, Jan. 23, 1941. He died Monday, Oct. 26, at the Avera Creighton Hospital at the age of 79 years, 10 months, 3 days. Jan attended District 113 in Royal, from first grade until he graduated in 1958, the third of five...
Funeral services for Jan Dewalt Curtis, 79, of Creighton, will be Saturday, October 31, at 10:30 a.m., at the Royal Gymnasium in Royal. Bob Moore will officiate, with burial in Royal Cemetery in Royal. Visitation will be Friday from 3 to 8 p.m., at Brockhaus Funeral Home in Creighton. Social distancing guidelines will be followed. Jan died Monday, Oct. 26, at Avera Creighton Hospital. ~~~ Jan Dewalt Curtis was born to Fremont and Mayola Curtis, on the family farm southeast of Royal, Jan. 23, 1941. He died Monday, Oct. 26, at the Avera...
Cancer cannot keep Barb Roland out of the classroom. The K-6 Title I teacher and literacy coordinator for Summerland Public School in Ewing has been battling various oral cancers for the past 11 years. However, that has not stopped the Oakdale woman from teaching and working with students, which is her passion. "I enjoy helping children grow and learn," Roland said. "My doctor told me to do what I love, and this is it. I am taking precautions with COVID, as we all are doing." Her battle with...
Last Wednesday was not a typical day in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. The Honorable Donna Taylor heard from a man who requested a year in jail and a woman who cited religion as a reason not to appear. Billy Russell, 29, of Elgin had spent the previous 96 days in the county jail on charges of driving under the influence, third offense, and resisting arrest, as his case proceeded to the point of sentencing. He nearly begged Taylor to keep him there. Russell’s mother sent a letter to the judge, asking her to keep him “as long as you can...
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...
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...
One of the most fitting quotes I have read concerning protests for the death of George Floyd is the simple truth. “Speaking out against white supremacy and race-based violence does not make you anti-white, anti-police, right or left. It makes you pro justice, pro all lives, pro accountability and pro racial equality. Caring about the life of another isn’t political. It’s human.” Somewhere, in the midst of seven days of chaos since Derek Chauvin spent eight minutes and 46 seconds pressin...
Christofer N. Carstens, 21, of Oakdale was found guilty of felony child abuse last Wednesday when he appeared before the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district court in Neligh. A plea agreement was reached, resulting in Carstens pleading no contest to the crime in exchange for prosecutor, Joe Abler’s agreement to file no further charges in the case and to recommend no more than 20 years imprisonment at sentencing, which is set April 29. Johnson ordered a presentence investigation report. Accused of injuring his infant d...
Joey Crooker, 37, of Ainsworth, formerly of Page, was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom last Wednesday, Feb. 26. Crooker, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of sexual assault pursuant to a plea agreement reached in December, has a previous sexual assault conviction, in 2002. He was questioned by the judge prior to passing sentence regarding his understanding of his previous sentence. "I understood," Crooker replied. "I just lost my head."...
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...
The Honorable Mark Johnson, one of two judges who serve the seventh judicial district of Nebraska, took the bench in the Antelope County courtroom last Wednesday, Jan. 29. Johnson and the Honorable James Kube alternate annually as presiding judges in the Antelope County district court. Johnson sentenced a Pierce County woman to three consecutive jail terms for felony convictions. Karen R. Stewart, 46, of Osmond will spend 120 days in the Antelope County Jail, providing she loses no good time. She was sentenced to 180 days for a conviction of...
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...
The Holt County supervisors met Monday, Dec. 16, in front of a crowd of concerned citizens. Agenda items regarding a TC Energy road-haul agreement and some township road concerns drew the visitors. The supervisors heard an update on a bronze statue planned for the courthouse lawn by the “Finian Women.” They are a group headed by daughters of longtime Holt County resident, Doc Cook, who referred to himself as a Finian, according to county clerk Cathy Pavel. Natalie Cook Butterfield addressed the leaders regarding fundraising and planned placemen...
Approximately 120 individuals attended an informal gathering at Summerland Golf Course, Oct. 6, to learn facts and figures associated with the Summerland school building project. Tobin Buchanan, a bond analyst with First National Capital Markets, said the Summerland project, when compared to others he has worked with, is unique. Most bond projects involve a rural community, often with a 100-year-old, three-tier building "that's outlived its usefulness." "(With that scenario) you're not...
