Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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As we celebrate Veterans Day, we should all take the time to acknowledge and thank the Huskers across our community who've chosen a path of service and self-sacrifice. For Morgan Erhardt, this was a path that she knew she would take since she was a kid. "At a really young age, I knew that the military was something I wanted to do," says Morgan. "It just always felt like a calling." Morgan says she enlisted in the National Guard "the second I turned 17." After graduating high school, Morgan...
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....
Nebraska isn't known as a battleground state when it comes to presidential elections. That tag usually goes to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, along with Georgia, Nevada and Arizona. But the recent pick of Nebraska native and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the vice presidential running mate for Kamala Harris is revving up talk that the Cornhusker State – at least Omaha's congressional district – is in play and may help decide this fall's presidential election. Walz, a 60-year-old former teache...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE Charlene Hughes, registered nurse, is the 2024 Caring Kind Award winner of Antelope Memorial Hospital. Hughes was recognized for this award on Tuesday, May 14, during National Hospital Week. Each year, the Nebraska Hospital Association honors employees from hospitals across the state as "Caring Kind" employees. The honored employee must exemplify the spirit of someone who gives that "something special" to others. Hughes began her career in 1971 at Antelope Memorial Hospital as...
On Thursday of this past week, Governor Pillen delivered his State of the State address. The governor began his speech by thanking members of law enforcement, first responders and road crews who have worked countless hours in recent days in the brutal winter weather conditions across the state. He next touched on his priorities for this year, which included property tax relief, reducing the regulatory burden of state government and protecting Nebraska from foreign adversaries. He lent support to...
Funeral services for William S. Gillette Jr., 81, formerly of Clearwater, will be 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 29, at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater, with Father James Kramper officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 29, before the funeral service, at the funeral Home. Burial will be in Clearwater Cemetery with military rites by Clearwater American Legion and Son of Legion Post #267. William passed away Jan. 24, 2024 at Norfolk Veterans Home in Norfolk. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater is handling the...
Funeral services for Roman Hupp, 75, of Oakdale, will be 10 a.m., Friday, January 12, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Neligh. Reverend Pat Nields will be celebrant, with burial in Oakdale Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5287, American Legion Post 171, Army National Guard Honor Guard and American Legion Riders. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church in Neligh, with a 7 p.m. vigil service, followed by a Rosary....
This weekend, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown. After a turbulent week, the House of Representatives passed a short-term bipartisan spending bill. The Senate approved the bill hours before the deadline of Oct. 1. From 2005 to 2013, I served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature. During that time, we ran into a major budget shortfall. All of us in the Unicameral worked together and compromised to find solutions to that fiscal crisis. We were legislators, so we legislated. In the...
The dining room table, it's not my style. But it was my parents' style, and we ate every holiday meal there at the house they built after we all grew up and left home. A bigger house. A house with the dining room my mom always wanted. What my dad wanted was to die in that house. Now a dark-haired stranger was carting that table away from the retirement home my mom and dad had landed and where Dad would spend his last months. His journey was a fill-in-the-blank primer on aging, as predictable as...
In May, 10 Nebraska State Patrol troopers went to Texas for two weeks to help with drone surveillance of the border with Mexico. Recently, 60 Nebraska National Guard members went to Texas for a month for a similar assignment. Is this a Nebraska problem? Or is this part of the national Republican Party agenda to allow Republican governors to take shots at the policies of President Joe Biden and blame Texas border woes on his administration. What's in it for Nebraska? Certainly not money. The...
Agriculture, broadband connectivity and tax savings were key topics addressed during Gov. Jim Pillen's town hall meeting, June 28, in O'Neill. Pillen opened by telling the crowd of approximately 80 that his team strives to work for "all Nebraskans. "I can't stand politics. I can't stand politicians," the governor said. "The privilege I had in the first six months, it is unbelievable how many incredible public servants we have serving the state of Nebraska." One of Pillen's goals has been to...
Operation Dry Water, a national effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to boating under the influence, is July 1 through 3 and Nebraska will again be a part of the effort. For the weekend leading up to July Fourth, Nebraska Game and Parks will have additional officers on the waters across the state. Their goal will be to raise awareness and to foster a stronger, more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water through enforcement. Fourth of July is a holiday...
Six veterans with local ties to the Clearwater community found themselves wrapped in warmth, Friday, as they received a Quilt of Valor® made by the Stars, Stripes and Stitches QoV group, based in Shelby. Eileen Krumbach, a member of the quilter's group, presented each veteran with a color blanket. Local Legion Auxiliary members Kay Klabenes and Shirley Clinton draped the quilts around the soldiers' shoulders and thanked them for their service Veterans present at the ceremony heard the story...
On May 26, Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Brigadier General Craig Strong to become the 34th adjutant general of the Nebraska Military Department, which includes the Air National Guard, Army National Guard and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Strong will take over for Major General Daryl Bohac, who plans to retire in July, after serving as adjutant general since 2013. "Brigadier General Strong is a man of courage, integrity and honor who has the experience necessary to...
Three proposals to cover the solution looking for a problem -- voter ID -- have proven to be about as confusing as the proponent’s explanation as to why the idea was necessary. After a lot of listening and a bunch of head scratching, I’m still not convinced. The only thing I know for sure, in Sen. Steve Erdman’s world there would be no mail-in ballots. Tell that to the 11 Nebraska counties that hold mail-only elections right now. Better yet, convince my 85-year -old neighbors that it’s a good idea. I’ve been voting by mail since Covid and...
Garrett Dwyer runs about 500 head of Hereford and Angus cattle on his Bartlett ranch on the east edge of the Sandhills. The land he's on today has been in his family since 1894, when his great-great grandfather homesteaded it. Dwyer, who grew up there, is now the fifth generation in his family to ranch this land. But Dwyer didn't take over the family ranch until he did something far from home. For five years, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two combat tours in Iraq. Now he's...
North Central District Health Department board of health members learned two things Friday about personal protective equipment storage at the O’Neill Armory, during Friday’s monthly meeting in O’Neill. NCDHD interim director Liz Parks said efforts to dispense surplus PPE, including gowns and masks, had been exhausted. At the board’s Sept. 29 meeting, Danielle Roessler, emergency response coordinator, said she had contacted multiple schools and agencies about potential use of some of the PPE, in...
Fifty years ago, women’s volleyball wasn’t even a varsity sport at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Fast forward a half century and Nebraska volleyball is must-see entertainment. Matches at the Devaney Center are standing room only. The Huskers again led the nation in home attendance last year with crowds averaging over 8,200 per match. And their national championship match against Wisconsin in December broke collegiate volleyball records for both in-person attendance (18,755) and TV vie...
While traveling the Third District in recent weeks, I have been encouraged by the expertise and creativity our communities possess and sobered by the challenges we face. We have much to be thankful for, but there is also no shortage to the adversity we must overcome. After closely monitoring the recent severe wildfires across southern Nebraska, I joined Governor Ricketts, Nebraska National Guard Adjutant General Daryl Bohac and other local officials earlier this week to survey the devastation...
The 107th Legislature, second session, has adjourned sine die. The last day was filled with last-minute items, the governor’s closing speech and ceremonial procedures. The 13 senators who won’t be back in January, either due to term limits or deciding not to seek a second term, were recognized. Although I won’t be running for another term, I will miss my colleagues and am thankful for being given the chance to serve with them in representing the State of Nebraska. When I ran for office, my pr...
The Legislature passed nearly 100 bills during the first three days of this past week. We will now recess for several days, thereby giving the Legislature the opportunity to override any potential governor veto prior to adjourning sine die. Governor Ricketts has five days (not counting Sunday) to either sign or veto the bills. He also has the option to let the legislation become law without his signature. Bills passed include all five bills that I introduced this year, in addition to one...
We have reached the one-third mark of this 60-day legislative session but still have a great deal of work to do. The various standing committees are busy holding public hearings on the 600 bills that were introduced in January. As of Feb. 3, public hearings have been conducted on 257 bills during the first three weeks of hearings, but 343 bills have yet to be heard during the next four weeks, before the public hearing process concludes and the Legislature begins to meet on the floor in full-day...
A new face will represent Antelope County residents in the Nebraska Unicameral. Timothy Gragert, of Creighton, serves District #40, which includes Antelope County, following redistricting measures which took place following the results of the U.S. census. Gragert's district also includes Holt, Knox, Cedar and the northern half of Pierce counties. The Creighton Community High School and University of Nebraska-Lincoln grad was elected as the district's senator in 2018. He served in the U.S. Air...
After a three-month break, the Legislature convened Wednesday, Jan. 5, to begin the 107th legislative session, second session. Senators were called into special session in September to complete the redistricting process, based on new census data. Legislative District #40 no longer contains Boyd or Rock counties. Rock and Boyd counties are now part of Legislative District #43, represented by Sen. Tom Brewer. Legislative District #40 also lost the southern portion of Dixon County, which will be...
Four contestants will compete for the Miss Clearwater Rodeo title, this Friday, at the 54th annual Clearwater Rodeo. Queen contest chairman Devon Baum said contestants will be judged in multiple events, including horsemanship, congeniality and appearance categories. Josey Booth, Neligh, Morgan Erhardt, Clearwater, Amanda Sellin, Norfolk and Jordyn Stempek, Duncan, will begin competition Friday afternoon. The 2021 Miss Clearwater Rodeo will be announced that evening, at 7:30 p.m., in Gene...
