Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Antelope Memorial Hospital will soon welcome Dr. Josh Thoendel to its medical staff. Originally from rural Ewing, Thoendel is a 2002 graduate of Chambers High School. He attended college at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, graduating in May 2006 with Bachelor of Science degrees in biochemistry and math and a minor in chemistry. As an undergraduate, he was active in research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center - College of Dentistry in Lincoln for a year. He also volunteered at St....
The speaker of the Legislature has announced that senators will complete their work a few days early, adjourning sine die on May 27 rather than June 10. This is partially due to the many late nights that were worked in order to complete our business and knowing we will be meeting again in a couple months. Every 10 years, the Legislature must complete the redistricting process to reflect population changes after the U.S. Census is complete. Due to the pandemic, states didn’t get the census d...
The Legislature passed the budget bills this past week. Governor Ricketts has five days (not counting Sunday) to decide whether to sign the legislation. The governor has the authority to line-item veto specific items on budget bills, without vetoing the entire bill. Once the budget bills have been passed, other legislation that appropriates General Funds or results in the reduction of revenue to the General Fund, and all other tax expenditure bills, can be read on final reading. LB 2,...
TAMMY DAY Civic Nebraska As winter turns to spring and dreams of summertime travel and adventure appear to be real possibilities, I find myself trying to dust off the cobwebs of the past year and figuring out how to transition to the post-pandemic world. There is an opportunity in this in-between space to pause and consider what’s next. Instead of falling back into the way things “have always been done,” there is value in taking a moment to consider how to do things differently and what new possibilities may be available as a result. In refle...
The work of the Legislature is now about getting bills to the floor for debate by the entire body. And that generally means a priority designation. Priority bills, one per senator, two per committee and twenty-five for the speaker, have now been designated. Senator Geist prioritized my LB 408, which provides for a 3 percent limit on annual increases in property tax askings. It may be debated on the floor of the legislature next week. Senator Slama prioritized my LB 139, which provides a measure...
BROOKE WRAGE, CELENA SHEPHERD and MADELEINE GRANT Nebraska News Service The first week of floor debates kicked off the second week in March. Senators debated and advanced a handful of bills in the Nebraska Legislature. A recap of the week. LB255: Provide compensation to families of deceased first responders Sen. Matt Hansen, of Lincoln, introduced LB255, which would establish the In the Line of Duty Compensation Act to provide a one-time death benefit for a family member of a first responder who dies while on the line of duty. “I believe it i...
DAVID CHAVERN President & CEO News Media Alliance Over the past year, local journalism has been more important – and more needed – than ever. From the COVID- 19 pandemic to the reignited social justice movement to the explosive 2020 U.S. presidential election and its aftermath, people have been turning to news publishers, day in and day out, to keep them up to date on how the changes happening around the world affect their daily lives. However, while news has been more in-demand than at any tim...
Since its origin in 1981, when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28, Women's History Week and Month honors the important role women play and the accomplishments they have made. This week, SAM staff members talk about qualities we look for in a role model and share who inspires us. ERIN SCHWAGER: Dolly Parton once said, "If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader." Like Dolly says, actions speak louder than w...
Summerland parents and teachers held mid-term conferences this week. It reminded me of days gone by ... Grandma Larson would give Laurie and me a buck for every “A” we earned on our report cards. I appreciated the extra cash, but I really did not need the incentive. It wasn’t like Grandma was dangling dollars and I was off on a chase to earn “A”s. I’ve told you before, I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to school. I liked it and school - except for algebra - came easy. Now I know there are peo...
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...
Kelsey Carlson calls me from the road, as she drives the quiet ribbon of highway connecting the hospital where she works to the small-town child care that has changed her life. Not long ago, when her daughter, Avery, went to a different child care, Kelsey would sob while driving to pick her up. She worried her daughter wasn't safe. She dreaded the thought that Avery was planted in front of a TV. She cried because she felt terrified she was failing at work and failing her child. Today, as Kelsey...
Jeremy J. Mathrole, 40, of Crofton appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom Wednesday, Oct. 28, for sentencing on a count of violating the Nebraska Sexual Offender Registration Act. Mathrole was represented by Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, who commented, “I think this is a lesson for the Legislature,” citing the differences in registry regulations in different states and his client’s travel to multiple states for work. He requested a sentence of time already served, alternately stating Mathrole had the abili...
A common conversation at our house focuses on the difference between fact and opinion. I’m positive Scott knows the first words I’ll say when we discuss news or politics: Have you fact-checked it? Recently, during discussions with friends and other families, I’ve noticed similar trends. I know, I say fact check a lot. At a time when so many options exist for your news listening or reading habit, and considering how the fast-paced nature of news bombards consumers, fact versus opinion findi...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened applications on Sept. 21 for the new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2. This program will offer payments to farmers and ranchers who may have suffered economic impacts caused by the coronavirus. Many farmers and ranchers are eligible to apply for CFAP 2. This includes row crop and livestock producers, as well as those who produce newly-eligible commodities such as broilers and eggs, additional specialty crops and specialty livestock. Those who...
Holt County Supervisors faced a Shakespearean-like conundrum during the group’s Aug. 31 meeting at the Holt County Courthouse. To include $2.5 million, monies promised by TC Energy for a road-use agreement, or not to include that amount in the upcoming road and bridge budget, dominated more than an hour of discussion. Without payment in hand, the proposed levy would cost taxpayers an additional eight pennies, jumping to 36.25 cents, a 31% increase. In the end, supervisors agreed to pursue a $...
In rural America, we understand the importance of postal mail to connecting our republic. Sites across Nebraska’s Third District on the Pony Express Historic Trail commemorate the value of this service back to our earliest days as a territory and state. However, the United States Postal Service has been in the news more than usual lately for two reasons – its financial troubles and the increase in mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our founders recognized the importance of postal mai...
ERIN SCHOENBERG Project associate Center for Rural Affairs Are you a part of your local farmers market, as a customer, vendor, manager, cheerleader or funder? Markets carry great tradition and whatever your current or future role is, here are some tips and experiences from managers and staff, for National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 2 to 8. 1. Markets need to be dependable and well-advertised—day of week, time of market and location should be established, well-known and consistent. 2. A core group of vendors is important; customers want to k...
The Honorable Donna Taylor presided over an array of cases last Wednesday, stemming from fights, traffic crashes, driving while intoxicated or under suspension, to dog attacks. In a rare move, Taylor chose not to follow a sentencing recommendation county attorney Joseph Abler offered as part of a plea deal. Abler recommended a fine only for Smokie J. Pike, 24, of Kearney, in exchange for Pike's no contest plea to third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor. After...
Clearwater site Principal Mike Sanne told Summerland Board of Education members he met with Educational Service Unit 8 administrator, Corey Dahl, to discuss the service unit’s potential purchase of the Clearwater facility. “We are negotiating a few things. There are concerns about a few things,” Sanne said. ESU 8 would like to include a storage shed located behind the school. “To prevent them from having to move the shed and running cement, hopefully we can negotiate a situation where they ca...
Antelope County commissioners worked a little closer to resolving a plethora of road issues last week, although no decision was reached for bonding more work. The bulk of the July 7 meeting at the courthouse in Neligh was dedicated to county roads, in one form or another. After clearing the agenda of other business and more than an hour of discussion with road superintendent Aaron Boggs, an unofficial agreement was reached, giving Boggs direction to move forward with work on four heavily...
Twenty-nine-forty – an accounting code that identifies an Antelope County Law Enforcement Center fund – has become a familiar term during Antelope County commissioner dialog, as well as a point of contention between county officials. The “special revenue” account was formed after the Law Enforcement Center went into operation in 2015. In the ensuing years, the balance in the account has grown to more than $400,000 from fees charged for housing prisoners from other counties and law enforcement services provided to several Antelope County...
MADELEINE GRANT Nebraska News Service Ballot initiatives that encourage economic development and repeal slavery language in the state constitution will appear on the Nebraska ballot in November. The Nebraska Tax Increment Financing Repayment Amendment increases the repayment period for TIF in blighted areas, which can help stimulate economic growth. The second amendment on the ballot is Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime, which removes language in the Nebraska state constitution that says slavery can be used as punishment for a crime. Both...
LAUREN BEHNK On behalf of the class of 2020, I would like to take a minute to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone in attendance. Whether you traveled a long or short distance, the ten of us on this stage are immensely glad you are here to support and celebrate this day with us. These times are unprecedented and it would truly not be the same without you. While this is our special day, you have been behind the scenes helping us to get here, so thank you. Our class is unique to say the least....
When ESPN commentator Stuart Scott accepted the Jimmy V ESPY award in 2014, Scott said, about his fight with cancer, "I'm still here, I'm fighting. I'm not losing." Scott Leisy, physical education instructor at Clearwater Public Schools and co-coach for the Summerland Bobcat girls' basketball team, said similar words to the Advocate-Messenger in July 2019, in an article which appeared in the July 25th inaugural issue. Leisy's fight with colorectal cancer lasted a little more than two years. The...
“Being negative and critical is easy, showing positivity and maintaining a positive mindset is where the real work begins.” These were words I used in an interview at the beginning of the month. When applying for a promotion for an administrative role in residence life at college, I was asked how I would maintain motivation and help motivate my resident assistants for the upcoming year. Without hesitation, I responded with, “Maintaining a positive mindset ...” It was the core concept I relied...
