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The Orchard Public Library started summer reading on May 22. "It was a whirlwind of fun and adventure for everyone," said library director Donna Hamilton. The library had received a grant through the Nebraska Library Commission for interns this year. Preslie Robertson and Lydia Robertson filled the intern role. The interns helped plan all the programing during the summer and helped during some of the programs. Attendees were split into three age groups: newborn to 5, 6-8 and 9 and older. The Ant...
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...
Discussion regarding lease agreements took precedence at the Village of Orchard Board of Trustees meeting held Monday, July 11. Trustees Glen Cheatum and Dwight VanOstrand were not in attendance of the meeting. Chairman Stephanie Cleveland addressed the status of several items at the community center. The shed has been cleared out and Jeff Shabram paid rent for the weight room through December. Officials are still waiting on lease and rental agreements, which will include utility costs, from vil...
The Village of Orchard and Summerland School closed on the schoolhouse sale, June 13. Village chairman Stephanie Cleveland made the announcement during the village’s June 13 meeting. The final cost of $10,408.50 includes the closing fee, title insurance and filing. During the process, members noticed property descriptions did not match. The parking lot is actually a three-parcel lot instead of a two-parcel lot. Cleveland said she would contact Josh Gray about insurance. Electric and gas u...
Eleven students graduated Wednesday, May 18, from St. Peter Preschool Academy in the St. Peter Lutheran Church's fellowship hall in Orchard. The graduation kicked off at 6 p.m., with preschool teacher, Jillian Henn, welcoming guests, introducing herself, saying a thank you to both of her teacher assistants, Angie Robertson and Shirley Raff, the children's parents and her mother, Sue Walmer. Graduates include Merritt Schacht, Cameron Bodhi Rautenberg, Landrie Thiele, Gracelynn Schwager, Hunter...
Future development of the Summerland Public School building, in Orchard, took center stage during a Sunday listening session. Village of Orchard trustees requested public input regarding potential relocation of village offices, library and shop, along with development of a community center, at the site, which will be vacated when Summerland students move into a new facility located at the intersection of 513 Avenue and Summerland Road. Orchard Economic Development Association member Kristi...
This August, I was extremely excited to get back to college and start making up for the memories lost during the pandemic at my first year of college. The day before I left, I went to tell my grandparents goodbye. My grandpa Jim Fink, 81, hugged me extra tight as he joked about staying away from boys. Then my grandma Gladys, 87, followed me out the door, gave me multiple hugs, as tears began to roll off her cheeks. "I just hope you know how proud your grandpa and I are of you." While both my...
The formation of clay into functioning vessels dates back thousands of years. Add a present-day artist’s interest in fossils and an archaic collaboration is created. For Kaci Schacht, the 23 year-old artist/owner of Mug Schacht’s, inspiration is found close to home. “Dinosaurs have always fascinated me and maybe growing up near Ashfall (Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, located near Royal) had something to do with that,” reflected Schacht, “and having a mom who loves art.” Her mom, Te...
Chubby Checker's 1959 classic "The Twist" blasted from cars, pickups, SUVs and the occasional minivan traveling the main drag in area towns Saturday night. Unlike a scene from the 1950s or early '60s, carloads of teenagers didn't unload and fill a local malt shop, sharing cheeseburgers and sipping chocolate shakes from separate straws. In the age of COVID-19, participants of the Coronavirus Cruise Night, sponsored by KBRX, in O'Neill, remained in their vehicles, took a few whips along Main...
Orchard school board members took no official action, other than consent agenda items when they met in the high school business room Wednesday, Feb. 4. Orchard principal Cathy Cooper told board members negotiations with the teachers’ association had been completed, with the 2020-2021 base salary for Summerland teachers set at $35,000. Currently Unified teacher base is $34,700 and Ewing’s is $35,000. Cooper said it would basically be a raise for everybody. “The base went up or the salary schedule percentages increased,” she said. “One item that...
Corner Hardware, a long-time staple among Orchard businesses, is under new ownership. On Jan. 11, Glen and Tammy Cheatum, of Orchard, completed the purchase from Cliff and Shirley Erb, who operated the business for more than 50 years. It was business as usual on Jan. 13, when the Cheatums opened the doors as the owners. For now, the Cheatums plan to keep their current jobs. Tammy works as a staff developer for ESU 8; Glen farms. That did not stop the couple from taking a leap of faith. "I've...
Keeping small-town businesses alive seems to be a concern, especially when it comes to selling a business. After having their business on the market for awhile, Cliff and Shirley Erb are excited about turning over the keys to new owners, Tammy and Glen Cheatum. “They have some energy and ideas, and they are going to continue to keep the doors open on Main Street,” said Shirley. For 52 years, the Erbs owned Corner Hardware Store in Orchard. They bought the building in 1968 Throughout the yea...
Candice Hoke of Orchard will join Nate Schwager to represent Orchard on the board of education for the new Summerland school district. The boards of education from Orchard, Clearwater and Ewing each voted for two members for the new board of education that will convene in June. Orchard board members selected Schwager, but three votes for the second member each resulted in a tie between Terri Hergert of Royal and Kristi Schutt of Orchard, and selection of the second member was delayed until Monday night’s board meeting at the Orchard school. S...