Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 430
A former Holt County resident was sentenced to three three-year prison terms for felony convictions and three one-year terms for misdemeanor convictions, all committed in Holt County, beginning more than three years ago. Jeff A. Dolberg, 45, was sentenced by the Honorable Karin Noakes on Monday, June 29, in Holt County district court. Noakes began presiding over the case after the Honorable Mark Kozisek recused himself, pursuant to a motion filed on Dolberg’s behalf by his attorney, Rodney Smith of O’Neill. The motion to disqualify cited Koz...
An approximate 220-mile, 345,000 volt transmission line, known as the R-Project was unplugged last week. Wednesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez, of Denver, overturns a 2019 "incidental take permit" issued to Nebraska Public Power District, regarding the project's potential impact on the environment. The route will begin at NPPD's Gerald Gentleman Station, near Sutherland, and run northeast to Thedford. There, it will connect to an expanded substation, before swerving east...
Each year, Aksarben pays homage to the dedicated and hard-working Nebraskan families who have met the incredible milestone of owning at least 40 acres of farmland within one family for 100 or 150 years, respectively. The Aksarben Foundation, along with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, recently announced this year’s 122 honorees for the Aksarben Pioneer Farm (100 years) and Aksarben Heritage Farm Awards (150 years). Three Antelope County families will receive Pioneer Farm awards, including John and Patricia S...
The Holt County supervisors reviewed and set new parameters for daily meal reimbursement when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 16. Staff working outside the county will be allowed $10 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and $16 for dinner/supper. The motion was made by supervisor Steve Boshart, seconded by supervisor Doug Frahm and carried on a 6-0 vote, with supervisor Don Hahlbeck absent. Mike Zakrzewski of O’Neill was appointed to the board of adjustments, with Jim Hubel of Ewing, Mark Rossman and Barb Steskal of Atk...
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...
North Central District Health Department has been made aware of two additional positive COVID-19 cases in Knox County. The first case, through contact investigations, has been deemed to be from community spread. Close contacts have been identified and asked to quarantine. The second case is currently under investigation. Contacts in this case have been identified and asked to quarantine. Residents of Knox County should assume the illness is in their community, as community spread is present in the county. NCDHD reminds residents that Test...
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...
A recent effort by Holt County court staff resulted in $149 payment for a two-year-old citation and recall of a bench warrant issued in the case. An Omaha man paid a $100 fine and costs nearly two years after he was cited by a Nebraska Games and Parks officer for fishing without a permit at Spencer Dam in June 2018. Dajhaun M. Wells, 21, was cited for the Class 2 misdemeanor June 2, 2018, and given until June 19, 2018, to file a waiver or appear in Holt County court to contest the charge. Wells failed to appear in court. A bench warrant,...
The Holt County supervisors approved purchase of a vehicle for the sheriff’s department, when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill on May 18. The lease-purchase through the Nebraska Association of Counties Leasing Corporation, was approved by resolution, in an amount not to exceed $26,900, with an interest rate of not more that 2.5%. The supervisors unanimously approved a $2,722,583 bid from Knife River Midwest from Sioux City, Iowa, for asphalt overlay projects near Page, Emmet and Stuart. Knife River was the only bidder. Proposals from 10...
New COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the North Central District Health Department region. Monday, NCDHD was made aware of another positive case in Pierce County. On Friday, the health department was made aware of an additional positive case in Pierce County. The individual contracted the illness through direct contact with a confirmed case. Boyd County reported its first positive case on Monday. The individual is in isolation at home and through investigations, is deemed to have contracted the illness through community spread. All close con...
North Central District Health Department, on Friday, was made aware of an additional positive case in Pierce County. The individual contracted the illness through direct contact with a confirmed case. This brings the number of cases in Pierce County to five and 26 total cases in the NCDHD region. Additional testing for Test Nebraska will take place in the area this week. One of the first testing events will be Tuesday, June 2, in Valentine. On Friday, June 5, testing will take place in O'Neill. To sign up for the Test Nebraska event, visit the...
Andrew J. Harris, 34, of Atkinson was sent to prison by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the district court of Holt County on Monday. Harris was sentenced to concurrent 18-month terms in an institution under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections, with credit for 136 days served, for convictions of counts I and II, attempted burglary and attempted theft by unlawful taking, both Class 3A felonies committed Jan. 3 near Stuart; and two concurrent 12-month prison terms, to be served consecutive to the 18-month terms, for...
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...
North Central District Health Department recently partnered with the Nebraska State Patrol to conduct tobacco compliance checks in Antelope County. Checks aim to ensure retailers are properly checking I.D.’s and only selling to those who are 19 or older. Antelope County’s compliance rate was 94.74% with 19 retailers checked, two skipped and one fail. HiWay Mart, City Limits, Dean’s Market, Elgin One Stop, The Home Town Station, Antelope Lanes, Buff’s Dew Drop Inn, Lucky Joe’s Liquor, Casey’s Retail Co. #2378, Cubby’s Inc., Dollar General #6015...
The purchase of a refrigerated semi-trailer and the county fund it was paid from were among matters of contention at the Antelope County commissioners' meeting last week. All five commissioners, several other county officials and others were present in the courthouse meeting room May 5 and the meeting was shared electronically via Zoom. Some of those present were asked to step into the hall at one point, when more than 10 were observed in the room. Jared Reimers addressed the commissioners...
A Holt County supervisor recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference. Bill Tielke, chairman of the county supervisor board, was notified in January that he had been appointed to the association's Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Steering Committee. The committee is responsible for matters pertaining to air, water, energy and land use – including such things as water resources/management; stormwater; pesticides; a...
Ten district health department areas across the state, including North Central District Health Department, which includes Antelope and Holt counties, will have changes to restrictions on social gatherings and business operations, beginning May 4. Governor Pete Ricketts announced upcoming changes to Directed Health Measures across the state during an April 24 press conference. The current state DHMs for Douglas County will be extended through May 3. Local DHMs from the Sarpy/Cass Health Department and the Douglas County Health Department will al...
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...
Joel Schrader, 48, of Martel, one of three men convicted in a 2018 burglary at a business in Atkinson, was granted continuance of his sentencing, due to COVID-19 concern. Schrader, who pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony charge of attempted burglary in January this year after reaching a plea deal in Holt County district court and was to be sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek on March 30, is now set for sentencing Oct. 19. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and defense counsel’s wish to keep himself, his family and those around him safe, defense...
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...
The process may be a little different for the May 12 Primary Election in Nebraska, but registered voters in the state will still have the opportunity for in-person voting. During a recent press conference, Governor Pete Ricketts announced the primary election will continue as scheduled. Ricketts emphasized that fulfilling the state's duty to carry out elections is vital to the health of the democratic republic. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen confirmed polling sites will be open for...
UPDATED: APRIL 1, 2020 @ 8:04 P.M. North Central District Health Department, in communication with state officials, have signed the NCDHD counties, including Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce and Rock, into the Directed Health Measures, effective April 1, at 10 p.m., through May 11, unless the order is extended. Please read the Directed Health Measures in full carefully, they can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services website at htt...
Holt County supervisors are considering the engagement of a human resources firm to help navigate employment issues. A telephone conference was held with Chad Thies from Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln during the March 16 meeting at the courthouse in O'Neill. After hearing what the firm offered in services, chairman Bill Tielke asked Thies to submit a proposal. Supervisor Steve Boshart estimated an annual cost of $36,000 to $40,000. "It will be high," Tielke said. "But the thing is, if...
Effective Monday, March 23, the Holt County courthouse and annex are open to customers by appointment only. Holt County supervisors approved a motion to limit access to the courthouse during an emergency video-conference meeting, March 20. Limited access will be in effect until at least until March 31, when the supervisors will re-evaluate the situation at their regular meeting. The meeting was called after department heads met Thursday to discuss possible procedures to enact. Individuals needing to conduct business with county officials are...
Many unprecedented events have taken place over this past week. In my March 13 newsletter, I wrote about the Legislature giving first-round approval to the budget bills. Since then, COVID-19 has completely overshadowed everything else. Terms such as community spread and social distancing have become part of our daily language. The Legislature postponed its session, beginning March 17, until it is safe and necessary to call members back into session. However, the speaker may call us back in soon...
