Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Governor Jim Pillen led Nebraska’s trade delegation to Germany on Sunday, kicking off the second phase of the state trade mission to Europe. The mission to Germany follows three event-packed days in the Czech Republic, which concluded with a reception for University of Nebraska alumni on Saturday evening in Prague. “In the last few days, we’ve met with German companies doing business in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “We’re discussing how each company can have a greater impact in our state. Everyone we’ve met in Germany absolutely loves the peo...
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....
Holt County Supervisors gave the nod to VRDG, LLC, for construction of a commercial solar conversion system, following a public hearing held Monday in O'Neill. Opponents expressed concerns about setbacks, environmental issues and health concerns, while proponents touted the tax advantages, seeing the system as a way to keep the family farm viable. The 325-megawatt nameplate capacity site will cover 300 Holt County acres, with the balance of construction set to take place in Knox County. It is...
Holt County Supervisors will meet with a representive from RTI, an IT firm based in Sioux City, when they meet in regular session, Friday, Aug. 30. The presentation is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. At the Aug. 16 supervisors’ meeting, supervisor Josh Treptow reported three quotes have been received. The county has previously worked with two of the companies. Treptow said a subcommittee met to discuss options. “Let’s have a one-stop shop that takes care of the network, do managed services and handl...
Kami Hooey, previously the court reporter at the Holt County Courthouse in O’Neill, has been selected to serve as the Rock and Boyd county court clerk magistrate in Bassett and Butte, respectively. Her official work as clerk magistrate began July 1. “Hooey’s vast experience as an official court reporter makes her an excellent choice to lead both Rock and Boyd counties as clerk magistrate. Her knowledge and experience will serve her well in this new position,” according to trial court services director Sara Fowler. County court clerk magistr...
Ask Ally Sedlacek what is Holt County's biggest asset and she'll quickly share her point of view. "It's the people," she said. "Without the people, this wouldn't be such a great place to live." An O'Neill native, Sedlacek has first-hand experience with the supportive and welcoming nature of area residents. This summer, she is highlighting locals who "have made a positive impact" and sharing why they love life in rural Nebraska. The end product: The People of Holt County, a compilation of video...
Last week, a jury convicted a Ewing woman of making terroristic threats against a former romantic interest, stemming from incidents that happened between Sept. 28 and Oct. 9, 2023. Jessica J. Snyder, 41, was found guilty of terroristic threats, a Class IIIA felony. Jury selection began May 1, with testimony commencing that morning. On Thursday, May 2, the jury deliberated for approximately two hours and found Snyder guilty. According to Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly, two minor children were...
Holt County’s coffers have an extra jingle following the March 4 tax sale, held at the courthouse annex in O’Neill. County supervisors learned the results at the board's March 18 meeting. “We actually had a lot less on the sale then we typically do,” said Shelly Ross, county treasurer. “I don’t know if that’s because of the names being in the paper, that people came in.” A new state statue requires property owners’ names to be included in the delinquent tax list, which is printed in the co...
Holt County Supervisors learned the district probation office needs more space. Tara Sprigler Price, district probation officer, addressed supervisors, Jan. 31, when the board met in O'Neill. If the veterans' office moves to the former O'Neill school administration building, Price would like to expand to the current veterans' office in the annex."I have a new officer I've hired who's currently in training and I don't physically have an office for him to go to here," Price said. The new officer...
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...
PROCEEDINGS OF REGULAR MEETING HOLT COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION A regular meeting of the Holt County Planning and Zoning Commission was held at 7:30 p.m., on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Holt Count Annex. Present were commission members: Grace Coleman, Mary Kaczor, Dan Grass, John Krysl, Keith May, Kevin Dekay and Marv Fritz. Absent were commission members Frank Heying and Rod Heiss. Notice of this meeting was given in advance by posting in three publications and posted in Holt County Clerk’s office. All proceedings hereafter s...
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...
Recent tension between the Boyd-Holt E911 board members and fire departments, emergency medical services, and law enforcement from both Boyd and Holt counties came to a head, Tuesday, June 20, as representatives filled the Holt County Annex meeting room. The board has struggled to keep employees the last few years and has failed to keep some of its promises to other dispatching agencies. Troubles with employees and management have fractured the once smooth operations' center that dispatches for...
The Boyd-Holt County Dispatch Center is responsible for the calling out of law enforcement and emergency medical services and fire department response in Holt and Boyd counties. The problem facing the area, state and country is the need for more people willing to do the job or interview. The Boyd-Holt Dispatch Center has struggled to keep up with personnel in the last few years. Troubles with employees and management have fractured the once smooth operations center that dispatched for the two counties. The Boyd-Holt 911 Board comprises two...
A Ewing woman who had been facing four felony charges stemming from incidents occurring at a rural Ewing home, occupied by several children, one year ago, on May 12, 2022, has pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts. Jessica J. Snyder, 41, appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Kozisec for a change of plea hearing May 1, accompanied by her attorney, Justin Kalemkiarian from the Berry Law Firm in Lincoln. A plea bargain was announced, after which Kozisec allowed Snyder to withdraw her previous pleas of not guilty to Count I, terroristic...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE Holt County is currently updating the county comprehensive plan and zoning regulations. As part of the update, the county is requesting residents to fill out a survey either online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/holtcountycompplan or by picking up a hard copy at the courthouse. In recent weeks, Marvin Planning Consultants and the county put out postcards and posters with information on the topic. Postcards and posters have a QR code link and a link to the project website....
Antelope County Commissioners listened to comments from opponents of a proposed carbon-capture pipeline earlier this month. Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska, was scheduled to meet with Holt County Supervisors, Feb. 16, but a Central Nebraska snowstorm kept her from making the trek from her home in Hastings to O'Neill. Before Antelope County leaders, Kleeb outlined her organization's fight against the Keystone XL pipeline and how she worked with area landowners to protect property rights. She...
Holt County’s HomeTown Leadership Institute will begin Wednesday, March 15. All Holt County residents who have an interest in expanding professional and personal leadership skills and learning more about the people, businesses and organizations that grow Holt County are encouraged to apply. Join the 2023 HomeTown Leadership Institute to be inspired to build a stronger rural community and continue to grow Holt County. Sessions focus on the areas of strengths-based leadership; economic development and housing; local government; agriculture; e...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE - NCDHD "You didn't grow up, you gave up." This is Officer Dave Gomez's reply to youth citing "growing up" as an excuse for misusing the internet, alcohol and drugs. The response should be mirrored by everyone discussing the health and wellness of youth. On Dec. 12 and 13, North Central District Health Department and the Holt/Boyd County Collaboration brought Gomez to 10 areas schools in Holt and Knox counties. Gomez, a 13-year Idaho law enforcement officer veteran and 10 as a...
Vacancies on township boards were discussed during the Holt County Supervisors Nov. 30 meeting. Since three people failed to file for township office in Antelope, Belle, Dustin, Holt Creek, Josie, saratoga, Scott, Shamrock and Willowdale townships, supervisors appointed residents to fill the positions. Antelope Township will be represented by Neil Liewer, James Crumly and Kristopher Matschullat; Belle Township, Pat Gentele and David Engelhaupt; Dustin Township, Dustin Lofquist, Kimberly...
A decision on proposed planning and zoning regulations in Holt County will wait until at least Nov. 16. That's the next time county supervisors will meet in regular session, at 9:45 a.m., at the courthouse in O'Neill. For more than two and one-half hours area residents presented testimony, covering carbon dioxide pipelines, solar farms and wind energy, during an Oct. 31 public hearing. At the conclusion, county lawmakers failed to advance a motion, by Doug Frahm, which would have accepted all...
First of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to address your group about the proposed planning commission changes. I thought we had killed this a while back and would not hear from the commission until they had a complete plan that had been thoroughly vetted. I have been on quite a few boards in my life. I can appreciate that you are doing what you think is best. I would ask you to consider an additional point of view. • I had a conversation at Elgin a few years back, that sounded like what I believe is happening again here, now. I w...
The answer was no. After months and months of collaborating, planning, meeting and devising a possible solution to continue celebrating Mass at eight area Catholic parishes, the local Pastoral Planning Committee was told their changes were "inadequate." Father John Norman, current pastor of six parishes, soon to be eight; told attendees at a town hall meeting in Ewing, Saturday evening, that Fr. Scott Hastings, vicar for clergy and judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Omaha, said no to a...
The North Central District Health Department board of health faced several questions from some of its own membership, Friday, when the group met in O'Neill. Concerns about the structure of the board of health and powers granted to an unidentified executive committee, legal representation, the district's computer system policies and lack of complete inventory, were expressed. James Ward, a Cherry County Commissioner serving on NCDHD's board, asked what action was taken, and when, to form an...
Wow, we at SAM are embarking on our fourth year of publishing a weekly newspaper. Seems like only yesterday when a group of us huddled around our dining room table to put together the inaugural edition of the Advocate-Messenger. The next day, Scott and I stood outside The Office, took a deep breath, waited for the first edition’s arrival and opened the door to a major opportunity. We knew it would be a life-changing experience. Trust me, we haven’t been disappointed. That was an exciting - and...
