Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Kelsey Carlson calls me from the road, as she drives the quiet ribbon of highway connecting the hospital where she works to the small-town child care that has changed her life. Not long ago, when her daughter, Avery, went to a different child care, Kelsey would sob while driving to pick her up. She worried her daughter wasn't safe. She dreaded the thought that Avery was planted in front of a TV. She cried because she felt terrified she was failing at work and failing her child. Today, as Kelsey...
The Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts released results of Holt County’s annual audit late last month. The report covers July 2019 through June 2020 and includes numerous areas of concern for internal control that were listed in a letter sent to the county board of supervisors Sept. 25. The report is a matter of public record and is posted on the APA’s website. Deann Haeffner, APA assistant deputy auditor, noted in the letter that the report is “critical in nature” as it addresses areas noted for improvement and does not include observa...
Two defendants faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Tuesday, Sept. 29, on charges related to a stolen vehicle that was recovered near Clearwater on Sept. 20. Antelope County deputy Cameron Lehr was pulling out of Hi-Way Mart while on patrol Sept. 20, when he observed an unplated GMC Suburban passing another vehicle. Lehr conducted a traffic stop outside of town on Highway 275. The driver, Christopher J. Alexander, 22, of Omaha told the deputy he had not had time to license the vehicle due to...
A South Carolina man who has been jailed in Nebraska since last December, was sentenced to serve not less than four, nor more than eight years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for a crime committed in Antelope County. Accompanied by public defender Melissa Figueroa of Norfolk, Robert Wagle was handed the sentence in the Antelope County district courtroom Sept. 30 by the Honorable Mark Johnson. In an allocution statement, Figueroa told Johnson her client thought the vehicle belonged to his employer,...
Dennis C. Statler, 50, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Antelope County courtroom for sentencing on a Class 1 misdemeanor count of domestic assault, cause body injury, committed March 31. He was sentenced to a 12-month term of probation, including related fees totaling $390 and $60 costs of prosecution. In addition to standard terms of probation, Statler was ordered to complete a co-occurring evaluation and to follow recommendations; complete an initial diagnostic interview for Batterer’s I...
A dad, who had been remanded to the county sheriff’s custody to serve a jail sentence, drove away from the courthouse in a private vehicle last Wednesday, with his children as passengers. Shane Sleister did not go directly to jail. Instead of proceeding north toward the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center, Sleister’s vehicle headed west on 5th Street, followed by Antelope County deputy and courtroom bailiff, Lyle Juracek, The 46-year old Oakdale man faced Taylor for sentencing on a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, a cha...
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...
A couple of weeks ago, a lifelong friend and I took a road trip through Western and North Central Nebraska. We checked out Chimney Rock, the Scotts Bluff National Monument, Toadstool Geologic Park near Crawford and the Niobrara River near Valentine. Social distancing was not a problem. The first night of that five-day trip we spent in Oshkosh, where I grew up and where my travel companion and I met on her third birthday. Her family was new to the neighborhood, her mom was looking for enough...
Jeff Shabram is always game to talk to people about a longtime hobby of his. The 43-year-old collector owns and operates Around The Horn Sportscards, located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Second and Windom streets in his hometown of Orchard. The store features all sorts of collectible sports memorabilia, including bobbleheads, cards, helmets, jerseys, magazines, photos and posters – many of which are autographed. "We've got a little bit of everything," Shabram said. Shabram a...
The Honorable Donna Taylor presided over an array of cases last Wednesday, stemming from fights, traffic crashes, driving while intoxicated or under suspension, to dog attacks. In a rare move, Taylor chose not to follow a sentencing recommendation county attorney Joseph Abler offered as part of a plea deal. Abler recommended a fine only for Smokie J. Pike, 24, of Kearney, in exchange for Pike's no contest plea to third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor. After...
Antelope County commissioners worked a little closer to resolving a plethora of road issues last week, although no decision was reached for bonding more work. The bulk of the July 7 meeting at the courthouse in Neligh was dedicated to county roads, in one form or another. After clearing the agenda of other business and more than an hour of discussion with road superintendent Aaron Boggs, an unofficial agreement was reached, giving Boggs direction to move forward with work on four heavily...
Twenty-nine-forty – an accounting code that identifies an Antelope County Law Enforcement Center fund – has become a familiar term during Antelope County commissioner dialog, as well as a point of contention between county officials. The “special revenue” account was formed after the Law Enforcement Center went into operation in 2015. In the ensuing years, the balance in the account has grown to more than $400,000 from fees charged for housing prisoners from other counties and law enforcement services provided to several Antelope County...
Trinity J. Mosel, 19, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick last Tuesday, June 23, in the Holt county courtroom, charged with two infractions, committed May 15, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense. She plead guilty to both counts and was fined $100 and $300, respectively, and was assessed $49 costs. Gail L. Crosser, 40, of Hastings was sentenced for a count of careless driving committed in December 2019. Crosser pleaded guilty to the Count II infraction Feb. 4, but not guilty t...
Justin W. Bennett, 24, formerly of Lancaster, California, currently incarcerated at the Antelope County Jail, appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom Wednesday, June 17, on an extradition request from Los Angeles County, California. Prior to facing the judge, Bennett informed county attorney Joe Abler he intended to request a hearing, to find out what the California charges are about. Documents in possession of Antelope County officials listed allegations by code only. Abler said he had not looked up...
Two 2019 cases were dispensed in the Holt County courtroom last week when the Honorable Kale Burdick pronounced sentence on defendants. Burdick sentenced Timothy P. Kopejtka, 47, of Page, $500 and assessed him $107 costs, on an amended charge of willful reckless driving, first offense, committed last year. The charge was reduced from a Class W misdemeanor, driving under the influence, in exchange for his guilty plea, pursuant to a plea deal with county attorney Brent Kelly. According to a probable cause affidavit, Nebraska State Patrol...
SANDY SCHROTH sschroth@ summerlandadvocate.com Rebecca L. Preister, 32, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor Wednesday, June 3, for a preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony count of third-degree assault on an officer. Pursuant to a plea agreement with county attorney Joseph Abler, she pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of resisting arrest, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Taylor ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing Aug. 5. Bond filed May 18, in the amount of $50,000, 10% cash, is continued. According to an affidavit, officers...
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...
Charlie Henery, chairman of the Antelope County board of commissioners, told his peers, when they met at the courthouse last Tuesday, June 2, that the condition of a road north of Clearwater embarrassed him. Discussion on 854 Road began as commissioner Eli Jacob asked the road superintendent his timeline for grinding a two mile stretch of 516 Avenue, from Clearwater north to the cemetery. Road boss Aaron Boggs said he first needed to know "where we're going with it." "Well, we either have to...
The Honorable Donna Taylor sentenced three individuals last Wednesday, May 20, in the Antelope County courtroom, while handling a variety of cases, from city nuisance violations and bad checks to violence and drugs. Mitchell B. Heine, 25, appeared for sentencing on two Class 1 misdemeanor counts, attempted possession of cocaine and attempted possession of hydrocodone, committed in May 2019. Taylor sentenced Heine to fines of $1,000 for each crime and $60 costs of prosecution. Heine pleaded guilty to the amended charges Feb. 19 after reaching a...
The Antelope County commissioners are considering a bond to finance extensive road repairs. “I think a big topic at this meeting will be what we will do with our oil roads, after our discussion last week,” commissioner Dean Smith said during the commissioners’ May 11 meeting at the courthouse in Neligh. He had contacted Tobin Buchanan with First National Capital Markets, who had previously worked with the county, to inquire about bond terms to finance potential major repair costs, “to look at options on how we are going to go forward with th...
The Holt County supervisors approved hiring a human resource firm when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill on April 16. With all seven supervisors in attendance at the meeting, the leaders voted 5-2 to contract with Zelle Human Resources of Lincoln to provide consulting services for an initial six-month term, after holding a phone conference with Zelle representative Chad Thies. Supervisors Bob Snyder and Don Butterfield voted nay. According to Thies, the firm would update the county’s employee handbook, making sure it is relevant and mak...
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...
Nearly 54 years after Hinrichsen Sand & Gravel began production, its owners, Lawrence and Sharon Hinrichsen, have delivered their final truckload of products. On March 31, the Ewing family sold the business to Jason Jacob, who will operate Spud Sand & Gravel. The following information was compiled by Sharon, shared with SAM and will be included in the Ewing 150th Sesquicentennial book. In the spring of 1966, Lawrence and Sharon Hinrichsen moved from Chambers, where they had baled and sold hay...
The Holt County supervisors held a regular meeting at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, March 31, with all seven supervisors in attendance. The supervisors adopted a resolution, declaring a state of emergency in the county, beginning Jan. 31 and continuing, due to the health and safety of county citizens in relation to a global pandemic. The declaration allows expenditure of emergency funds if deemed necessary. Chad Thies with Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln discussed a proposed contract via phone conference. The board took t...
Finding Easter eggs might be a little difficult for youngsters this year. While brightly-colored eggs may pop against a blanket of white snow predicted to hit the area tomorrow, high winds could cause poor visibility. The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a winter storm warning for 10 counties, including Holt and Wheeler counties, effective 1 a.m., through 10 p.m., Sunday, April, 12. According to the NWS, heavy snow with accumulations of three to eight inches is expected, with...
