Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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One of my favorite play scripts is “First Night” by Jack Neary. In it, Danny Fleming, a video store clerk, sees his eighth-grade crush, Meredith O’Connor (who is now a nun), enter the store. What ensues is a roller coaster of emotions from puppy love to midlife angst. The play answers questions: Does he still love her? Is she in love with him? After 20 years, will she leave the convent to build a life with the man of her dreams? The best line first comes from Danny, talking about Mered...
Nine road improvement projects were approved by Antelope County Commissioners, Oct. 1, following the one- and six-year road plan hearing. Highway Superintendent Brian McDonald said essentially the plan includes any new construction. Priority projects include two bridge replacements along the Antelope/Knox county border. Project C-2 404 includes removal and bridge replacement. Both counties will contribute $155,000 toward the project. It is located along 870 Road, between 518 and 519 avenues....
In the first-ever Great Nebraska Athletic Conference cross country meet, three Bobcat junior high runners brought home medals. Isabella Kester finished fourth in the girls' division. She crossed the finish line in 9:43.14. Taylon Bertschinger ended 12th, running 11:27. Other Bobcat runners included Ali Sonnefelt, 17th, 12:38.31; Cady Soper, 21st, 13:39.68; and Jaden Robinett, 24th, 15:24.28. The team finished fourth in overall standings, scoring 31 points. Hartington-Newcastle won with 11....
Summerland hosted Laurel-Concord-Coleridge in gridiron action, Oct. 11. The Bobcats defeated the Bears, 59-14. Running back Mathias Wagner had another big night, rushing for 250 yards. Summerland travels to Tilden, Friday, for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Elkhorn Valley....
No medals. Just a lot of experience and personal bests. That describes the Summerland high school cross country teams' results from the first-ever Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference meet, held Oct 10 at the Plainview Country Club. Senior Lenora Kester was seconds away from a medal. She finished 17th, running 24:35.45. Carlee Livingston was two spots behind Kester. She placed 19th, running 25:17.32. Aubrey Parker ended 27th in the field of 34 runners. She cross the line in 27:52.62. West Holt c...
It was billed as a debate against incumbent U.S. Senator Deb Fischer. In reality, Dan Osborn greeted approximately 30 constiuents and a handful of east-coast journalists, around 8:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 14, at Sly's Family Bar and Grill in Neligh, for an hour-long listening session after Fischer did not show up to debate the independent candidate from Omaha. Osborn, a Navy veteran and Nebraska National Guard member said he's frustrated with the two-party system and the polarization of politics....
Whether the luck of the Irish was with them or if a divine power intervened, emergency personnel are thankful that no fatalities or major injuries were reported in an explosion that rocked O'Neill before sunrise on Monday. At approximately 5:55 a.m., an explosion occurred in the St. Patrick's Parish Center, in the 300 block of Benton Street. KBRX Radio owner Scott Poese, of O'Neill reported flames as high as 50 to 60 feet were visible in the early-morning skies shortly after the blast occurred....
One. That's the number by which enrollment at Summerland Public Schools dropped for the 2024-25 school year. Superintendent Molly Aschoff supplied the numbers after final enrollment totals were given to the Nebraska Department of Education at the end of September. Records show 442 students are enrolled this year. One noticeable differences is the size of the senior class. Last year, 20 students were enrolled. This year's class has 42 students. Twenty-two students are enrolled in preschool this...
Unless something drastic occurs in the next week, when the Summerland Public School Board of Education is slated to meet, members will take action on three items. The board is scheduled to meet Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., in the board room. The first item of business will be a report from the American Civics Committee meeting. The Summerland Education Association will be considered as the bargaining agent for the district's non-supervisory certificated staff for the 2026-27 contract year. Policy...
Holt County's road department will receive two new motorgraders following approval from county supervisors at the Sept. 30 meeting in O'Neill. Representatives from Murphy Tractor and NMC CAT presented bids. Murphy Tractor's bid package was for a JD 772G Motorgrader with six-wheel drive and a snow wing, off the state bid, for $487,500, which includes a service agreement for $63,221. NMC's bid was for a 140-15AWD Caterpillar, with snow wing off the Sourcewell quote, for $432,900, which includes a...
One of the best yearbooks my students produced is based on the theme, "Everyone has a story." Like a typical yearbook, it is stuffed with photos and cutlines and articles, from bleed line to bleed line, placed on double-truck spreads. The difference from others we previously produced: We looked for commonalities among students that weren't school related. In that edition, students wrote about their peers who participated in non-traditional sports outside of the school day, like trap shooting...
All University of Nebraska athletic venues now have full approval to sell alcohol. On Oct. 4, the Nebraska Board of Regents voted 7-1 in favor of allowing beer, wine and liquor sales at all NU athletic venues, replacing a 2022 vote that allowed alcohol sales case by case. Until today, Nebraska was the sole Big Ten school that did not sell alcohol in its football stadium. "The advantage of all 17 schools in the Big Ten doing this already is there are best practices," athletic director Troy Dannen...
Isabella Kester was the lone Bobcat medalist, Friday, when the junior and senior high teams competed at Evergreen County Club near Battle Creek. Kester picked up the 12th-place medal, running 13:52.32. The junior girls finished sixth in team standings. Taylon Bertschinger placed 39th, running 16:54.33; Ali Sonnefelt, 41st, 17:22.33; Cady Soper, 46th, 21:11.84 and Jaden Robinett, 47th, 21:51.58. In the junior high boys' race, Dylan Gray was the first Bobcat to cross the finish line. He ran the 3,...
Whether the luck of the Irish was with them or if a divine power intervened, emergency personnel are thankful no injuries were reported in an explosion that rocked O'Neill before sunrise on Monday. At approximately 5:55 a.m., an explosion occurred in the St. Patrick's Parish Center. Initial reports of liquid oxygen tanks exploding were debunked by Terry Miles of the O'Neill Fire Department, who reported where the fire originated. Following the explosion, KBRX Radio owner Scott Poese reported fla...
Shaylie Kester envisioned a future as a veterinary technician. After working as a student teller at Cornerstone Bank's Clearwater branch, the Summerland FFA member is consider a career change. "This experience opened my eyes to the world of finance and made me realize how much I enjoy working in the field of business. Now, I plan to pursue a career in something on the financial side, like ag business." Kester, who serves as the local chapter president, initially considered showing fair cattle...
Holt County Supervisors approved the purchase of a new pickup, Monday, when they met in regular session at the courthouse in O'Neill. Deputy Ed Nordby presented a bid of $49,446 from Anderson Auto Group through the State of Nebraska purchasing Bureau. The new vehicle will be a 2024 Ford F150 Super Crew XLT 4x4, with a push bumper, full-length running boards and driver-side spotlight. Nordby said, "Sheriff Matchett has it in the budget." County Clerk Cathy Pavel said American Recovery Plan Act...
I turned 13 when a magical show debuted on Saturday evenings, full of comedic genius and up-and-coming musicians. I grew up watching what was first dubbed NBC’s Saturday Night. It didn’t become known as Saturday Night Live until 1977, after ABC dumped its lackluster Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell. Those first seasons with the Not Ready for Prime Time Players - Gilda, Dan, Chevy, Jane, John, Garrett and Laraine - are classics. From Roseanne Rosannadanna to Landshark to the Killer Bee...
After being unable to produce a sample for a chemical test, prior to being sentenced in Antelope County Court, on Sept. 25, a 33-year-old Oakdale man remains in custody after testing positive to a test later that day. Christopher B. Brady appeared before the honorable James G. Kube in the Antelope County District courtroom for sentencing on a charge of third-degree assault - domestic, a Class I misdemeanor. Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith told Kube the defendant was unable to provide a...
Summerland's varsity volleyball team finished 2-1 in tournament play, Sept. 28, en route to the runner-up trophy at the Wayne Invite. In the first match, the Bobcats defeated Archangels Catholic, 25-21 and 25-17. Lydia Robertson nailed nine kills in the match. Ella Bolling added six. Belle Anson and Kenzie Sanne finished with two ace serves apiece and Anson led the defensive scheme, picking up eight digs. The win set up a match against Madison, with the Bobcats earning a sweep, 25-16 and 25-19....
An investigation into the cause of a Monday morning explosion at St. Patrick’s Parish Center in O’Neill is believed to be the result of a vehicle striking a gas line that fed into the building. In a press release issued Tueday by Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly, first responders identified a vehicle they believe was associated with the incident. The vehicle was driven by a 58-year-old Guatemalan national. “The O’Neill Police Department initiated an investigation into the cause of the inciden...
Part 2 in a 3-part series As a member of a farm family, Braelyn Bergman understands the basics of agriculture, the hard work and long hours it takes for seeds to sprout into a sustainable product. This summer, through a Supervised Agricultural Experience for FFA, Bergman has developed a new appreciation for work farmers provide. Summerland FFA Advisor Jacob Goldfuss said Bergman's project involved renting four acres of land from her dad, Ryan, and planting and raising a corn crop. Originally, Be...
Hand counting of election ballots will not take place in Holt County anytime soon, despite a request from citizens made at the Sept. 16 supervisors' meeting in O'Neill. Grace Coleman of Atkinson presented petitions discouraging use of electronic tabulators and encouraging a return to hand counting of ballots at the precinct level. She said individuals from Holt, Boyd, Antelope, Cedar, Knox, Dixon and northern Pierce counties signed the petitions, which were circulated over the summer months....
Reprinted with permission LuAnn Schindler has been a journalist in Nebraska for over 30 years. She's been a reporter and editor in the northeastern part of the state most of her career. Her office at the Summerland Advocate-Messenger is covered in stories, old newspapers and plenty of awards she's won over the years. Schindler said she's written over 6,000 stories. She's covered court trials, rodeos and the annual turtle race at a community celebration. "It's really gone by fast when I think...
Good things come to those who wait. Or, sometimes, you have to flesh out details of a project before all the pieces come together. In this instance, the second statement hits the mark. For two years, we have wanted to establish a reader panel for SAM. Why? We believe listening to reader feedback is a solid way for our weekly product to continue to grow. We believe SAM has an invested group of readers and we feel it’s important to connect with you, whether you’re a print subscriber or prefer the...
At first glance, the Clearwater Veterans Park, located at the intersection of Main and Nebraska streets, pays homage to those who served this country. Flags recognizing each military branch of service wave on the eastern side of a concrete walkway. A bright mural decorates the south wall of the library. A plaque, defining the term "veteran," is installed. Benches supply a place for visitors to sit and reflect. As of Sept. 11, two more pieces have been added: a battlefield cross and a soldier bea...
