Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 269
Over nearly 20 years, I lost track of how many times I was required to drive to Whiteclay to report on a protest about the beer stores there. Those four stores sold up to 3.5 million cans of beer a year and were the liquor stores of choice for the adjacent Pine Ridge Indian Reservation right across the Nebraska-South Dakota border. Alcoholism is a horrible problem on the reservation – which annually ranks as one of the poorest areas in the country – even though alcohol sales and possession are...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, while presiding from the bench in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week, signed a bench warrant for the arrest of an Ainsworth man who failed to appear for arraignment. Burdick signed the warrant calling for the arrest of Brenton K. Mann, 39, who failed to appear for arraignment on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, high test, a Class W misdemeanor alleged April 29. He was arrested by a Holt County deputy after he became stuck in a ditch along 478 Avenue, about one mile north of Highway 2...
Orchard village trustees approved modifying a decision regarding painting at the community center when they met in regular session, May 14. At a May 2 special meeting, trustees approved a quote from Timmerman’s Painting, of O’Neill, in the amount of $7,061, for painting the gym, bathrooms, lobby, vestibule and heating, ventilation and air conditioning duct work at the community center. Following discussion on May 14, Tyson Schutt made a motion to modify the original motion to purchase paint fro...
Two cases with charges from 2021 and 2023 reached resolution in the Holt County court last week when the Honorable Kale Burdick presided from the bench at the O’Neill courthouse. Mark J. McCrea, 63, of Correctionville, Iowa, pleaded no contest to an amended charge in a nearly three-year-old case, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. On March 16, 2022, Kelly charged McCrea with criminal impersonation, a Class 4 felony alleged Nov. 22, 2021. He provided an O’Neill police officer with an incorrect name and date of...
A 39-year-old Minnesota man was bound over to Holt County district court last week on six felony charges incurred in an April 6 chase that began in Ewing. Luke E. Rothering of Harmony waived his right to preliminary hearing and was bound over by the Honorable Kale Burdick when he appeared for first hearing in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last Monday, May 7. Burdick waived jurisdiction of seven misdemeanor counts to the district court. District court arraignment was set May 13, with bond continued in the amount of $300,000, 10% cash. R...
NOTICE TO BIDDERS CULVERTS - HOLT COUNTY Sealed bids will be received by the Holt County Clerk until April 30, 2024, at 11 a.m., and opened shortly thereafter, for the construction of corrugated metal pipes with steel headwalls and wingwalls, and other related incidental work at two sites. The project sites are located as follows: C-45(560) – on Road 895 between 474 Avenue and 475 Avenue; C-45(562) – on Road 898 (aka River Road) between 480 Avenue and 481 Avenue, both in Holt County, Nebraska. The projects are referred to as “Holt County 2024...
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS HOLT COUNTY, NEBRASKA Sealed proposals for the construction of one bridge superstructure replacement. The bridge superstructure replacement is a two-span superstructure replacement 20’-4” wide by 51’-10 ½” long on 499 Avenue over the Cache Creek – Bridge No. C004507505 – Project C45 (566). The sealed proposals shall include removal of the twin span superstructure at 857 Road and construction of the new superstructure including materials, labor, equipment, tools, along with appurtenances and accessories for Holt County, Neb...
James L. Palik, 23, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on April 9, for sentencing on nine counts committed Dec. 7, 2023. Burdick sentenced Palik to a 12-month term of probation for attempted possession of a controlled substance (concentrated THC), a charge that was reduced from a Class 4 felony, pursuant to a plea agreement. As part of the probation conditions, he was ordered to serve 24 days in the Holt County Jail unless waived; obtain a chemical dependency evaluation and complete any tre...
On Friday, April 12, at approximately 7 p.m., the Holt County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Holt County Attorney’s Office, O’Neill Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Antelope County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in Ewing. The search warrant was served at a camper located at the northeast corner of Highway 20 and Highway 45B. Substances alleged to be controlled substances and several items believed to be drug paraphernalia were found during the execution of the search warrant. Torrey Peterso...
NOTICE TO BIDDERS CULVERTS - HOLT COUNTY Sealed bids will be received by the Holt County Clerk until April 30, 2024, at 11 a.m., and opened shortly thereafter, for the construction of corrugated metal pipes with steel headwalls and wingwalls, and other related incidental work at two sites. The project sites are located as follows: C-45(560) – on Road 895 between 474 Avenue and 475 Avenue; C-45(562) – on Road 898 (aka River Road) between 480 Avenue and 481 Avenue, both in Holt County, Nebraska. The projects are referred to as “Holt County 2024...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska March 12, 2024 Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Tabled minutes of the 4-2-2024 BOC meeting. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims. General: AMERITAS LIFE INS CORP ins 19,887.11; ANTELOPE CO COURT ex 50.00; ANTELOPE CO SHERIFF ex 126.33; APPEARA ex 33.28; APPLIED CONN TECH ex 7,620.75; BLACK HILLS ENERGY ut 207.68; BCBS ins 67,690.28; BROCKHAUS-HARLAN FUNERAL HOME ex 2,000.00; CARNEY LAW ex 3,800.00; CASEYS ex 2...
County court cases in Antelope County are routinely heard by the Honorable Donna Taylor, one of three county court judges presiding from benches in the Nebraska’s Seventh Judicial District. Last week, Taylor passed a case to one of her peers. The Honorable Ross Stoffer will travel to Neligh to hear a case involving a former Neligh police officer, Michael D. Wright. Wright is set for further arraignment May 1. Bond is continued at $5,000, 10% cash. Referring to previous work through Antelope County involving Wright as an officer, county p...
Michelle J. Brigance, 42, of Atkinson appeared in the Holt County courtroom last week to be sentenced for crimes committed April 8, 2023, in O’Neill - Count I, driving under the influence of drugs, a Class W misdemeanor; Count II, refusal to submit to chemical test, a Class W misdemeanor; counts III and IV, possession of drug paraphernalia, infractions; count V, possession of open alcohol container, an infraction; and Count VI, display of fictitious plates, a Class 3 misdemeanor. The Honorable Kale Burdick placed Brigance on a 12-month term o...
Joaquin S. Echeverria, 28, of Brenham, Texas, (in custody) appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 21 for first hearing on a Class 1 C felony. Echeverria is charged with possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver, alleged Feb. 19. If convicted of the felony, Echeverria faces up to 50 years in prison, with a minimum of five years. Echeverria requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney. Preliminary hearing...
Antelope County Commissioners approved rental of four license plate readers during its Feb. 13 meeting. Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore told commissioners license plate readers are going up across the state. “They’re paying huge dividends.” The sheriff explained how a stolen car in the county led authorities to discover the missing vehicle in Sarpy County, thanks to a plate reader. “It actually captured that plate in Omaha. The officers converged on a Walmart parking lot and apprehe...
Full disclosure: My wife and I drive a four-year-old hybrid sedan. It runs on the electric motor up to 15 miles -per- hour before the gasoline engine engages. It feels and sounds like it's dead at stop signs. It averages 44 miles-per-gallon in highway driving. But it's a hybrid, not an all-electric vehicle. U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts has vowed to use every tool he has to fight President Joe Biden's electric vehicle mandates. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has signed a letter to Biden as one of 16...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska January 10, 2024 Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved minutes of Jan. 2, 2024, BOC and BOE meetings. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims. General: AMERITAS LIFE INS CORP ins 19,288.65; ANTELOPE CO COURT ex 68.00; AMH ex 23.00; APEX THERAPY SVCS ex 955.00; APPEARA ex 33.28; APPLIED CONN TECH ex 4,774.80; BEAR GRAPHICS ex 636.19; BLACK HILLS ENERGY ut 786.74; BCBS ins 60,532.81; BLUE360 MEDIA ex 282.80;...
As winter storm warnings have been issued for counties throughout the state, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services urges Nebraskans to take steps to reduce risk of injury or illness. There has been a notable increase in emergency department visits for cold-exposure illnesses, such as frostbite and hypothermia across the state, according to the DHHS. Outdoor falls due to slippery surfaces and ice have also resulted in over 140 emergency department visits in the last two weeks. Additionally, winter storms create a higher risk of ca...
Nathaniel N. Fonseca, 22, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Dec. 19, 2023, for sentencing on charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense. Burdick fined Fonseca $500, revoked his driver’s license for 60 days and placed him on probation for six months. The probation order includes fees totaling $210 and he was ordered to pay $105 costs. Fonseca, who was represented by Brad Montag of Norfolk, pleaded guilty Oct. 17 after reaching a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Br...
Gerald C. Strackbein, 32, of O’Neill appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick on Nov. 7, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill, for sentencing on a count of first-degree criminal trespassing. Burdick sentenced Strackbein to a 12-month term of probation, including $390 in fees, and taxed him $62 costs for the July 17 crime. Strackbein pleaded no contest Sept. 19, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. In return Kelly dismissed a count of attempted burglary. According to an arrest affidavit filed by an O’N...
Jerry D. Beall Jr., 20, of Atkinson was sentenced Oct. 2 by the Honorable Mark Kozisec, in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill, for a crime committed in September 2022. On the charge of soliciting prostitution, under 18, Beall was sentenced to three years of probation, with conditions including seven days in the Holt County Jail, payment of $1,100 probation fees and partial reimbursement to the county for defense counsel fees, in the amount of $500. Terms of probation also include: Obtain employment; obtain GED; obtain a c...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Oct. 10, 2023 Neligh, Nebraska Vice-chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved minutes of the Sept. 12, and Oct. 3, 2023, BOC meetings. Correspondence was reviewed. Reports were reviewed: sheriff’s fee report; clerk of the district court, zoning permit report and treasurer’s sweep account report, treasurer’s fund balance report; treasurer’s miscellaneous revenue report. Review of claims. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims....
Nicholas D. Harris, 37, of O’Neill appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill, on Oct. 10, for sentencing on a DUI charge committed Jan 22. Burdick fined Harris $500; ordered an 18-month term of probation, including fees of $570; ordered a 10-day jail sentence, with credit given for one day previously served; and revoked his driver’s license for 18 months. Harris was assessed $105 costs of prosecution. He pleaded guilty, in July, to driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense, a Class...
Whether or not Antelope County Planning and Zoning Commission approves a conditional use permit for a proposed carbon-capture pipeline will wait until Thursday, at the earliest. The group is set to reconvene, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m., in the commissioners' meeting room, to discuss approval or to deny the permit. Public comment will not be heard since that portion of the process closed when the commission met Sept. 14. Chairman Greg Wortman said he had been contacted by a member of the public who...
"For it's a long, long while from May to December But the days grow short when you reach September And the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame..." -- September Song I decided it was time to get out of the office and go see Nebraska. It's been a post-pandemic while since I have done so. I jumped at the chance to ride to Chadron with a friend with numerous stops along the way. Call it a visual checkup to see how the Cornhusker State is holding up amid almost daily reports of increasing...
