Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
Assistance is needed for the Clearwater Veterans Park. Names of veterans, living or deceased, with a Clearwater connection, are needed for inscription on a monument, which will be installed at the park. Organizers request the veteran's name and branch of service be submitted to either Michelle Stearns, 402-929-0003; Kate Ahlers at 402-750-3794; or Linda Hankla, 42-750-2384....
When you think of the word "veteran," who comes to mind? For many Clearwater residents, the term may be associated with a family member, a next-door neighbor or a teacher who bravely served this great nation. These veterans have earned undying gratitude for the sacrifices made. Last summer, a group of civic-minded residents began discussions to create a spot honoring area veterans. The first step: painting a mural on the south wall of the library on Aug. 19. That task was followed with...
Six flags, recognizing each branch of the U.S. military, flank the American stars and stripes on the eastern edge of Clearwater's newest addition, Veterans Park. A cement walkway is poured and will feature a granite monument with names of area heroes who took a piece of Clearwater to the war zone and, in some instances, made the selfless sacrifice. A mural featuring a solider covers the south wall of the Clearwater Public Library, establishing a backdrop for the area. Eventually, a statue of a...
John Lajba has grown accustomed to having Lady Liberty loom over him while he works in his downtown Omaha studio. Still, the sculptor would rather see the weathered 9-foot copper statue depart his studio shelf – its home for the past 30 years – and placed back where it belongs. "It's been ... out of sight and out of people's memories for too long," Lajba said. He might get his wish. Momentum appears to be building to restore and return the statue to its pedestal in Omaha's Turner Park, whe...
KEARNEY – Americans have recognized military veterans in vastly different ways over the past 247 years. They've thrown parades for some and scorned others. But the Pawnee scouts, who protected pioneers, freighters and railroad workers in Nebraska during the mid-19th century's great migration west, were largely forgotten outside the Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma. "Those scouts were the very first in our tribe to serve in the military, so we hold our veterans on a high pedestal, almost like c...
PROCEEDINGS FOR BUDGET HEARING, TAX REQUEST HEARING, REGULAR MEETING VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES September 11, 2023 The board of trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a budget hearing Monday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Hearing opened at 7 p.m. Notice of hearing was given in advance by publication in "Summerland Advocate-Messenger," was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS Village of Clearwater BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 14, 2023 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 8:05 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly...
A tribute to Clearwater-area veterans is one step closer to reality. Clearwater Board of Trustees gave approval to a group of residents, including members of the local American Legion and Auxiliary, who approached the board when it met in August, about renovating the area south of the public library and adding a veterans' memorial on the lot. Little did organizers know the artistic portion of the project would be complete within the week. On Aug. 19, Tilden artist Adam Boggs completed the first...
KEARNEY – Actor Bradley Whitford's journey to trace his ancestry started in sunny California and ended at a snow-covered Nebraska cemetery. Along the way, he met several experts who helped him uncover his family history, including a University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty member. UNK assistant history professor Nathan Tye appeared with Whitford on the most recent episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" an NBC show that follows celebrities as they search for information about their ancestors. T...
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...
Even though only a handful of days remain in the 2022 legislative session, District 40 Sen. Tim Gragert said he wants to hear from constituents. Gragert met area residents, Friday, at the Antelope County Ag Society Event Center. Through redistricting, following the 2020 census, Antelope and the northern part of Pierce counties were added to the district. Gragert, who will serve through January 2023, said, "I have never taken this job as a position or title. I stepped up, put my best foot...
From the Wyoming/Nebraska border to the opposite side of the state, 432 miles along U.S. Highway 20, link the state’s Pine Ridge region, sandhills and Elkhorn River, before reaching Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City. It’s a 432-mile walk Ken Hanel, of West Point, and Daryl Harrison, of Thurston, know well. The pair completed the walk Saturday, after starting May 11. The 432-mile route wasn’t selected by happenstance. In February 2020, Governor Pete Ricketts named Highway 20 as the N...
State senators resumed the legislative session July 20, after breaking for almost four months due to coronavirus. We are set to complete this 60-day session Aug. 13. During this first week back, we immediately began debating the major issues left pending. Senators voted 30-8 to pull LB 814 from the Judiciary Committee and place it on General File so it can be debated. LB 814 would prohibit live dismemberment abortion and provide for criminal penalties for physicians who perform such abortions....
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...
It’s that point in the legislative session when only bills with priority status make the agenda. The deadline for selecting priority bills was Feb. 21. Every senator is authorized to select one bill as his/her personal priority bill. Committees are allowed to select two bills and the speaker of the Legislature can designate up to 25 bills as speaker priority bills. Since committees are limited in the number of bills that they can select, they tend to incorporate a number of other bills into t...
One of the bills that I introduced this session was LB 770. It authorizes a free lifetime park permit for disabled veterans. This past week, LB 770 was advanced from the Natural Resources Committee on an 8-0 vote. I designated it as my priority bill and the Legislature gave it first-round approval on a 38-0 vote. Under LB 770, a veteran would be eligible for the free permit if they are a Nebraska resident, honorably discharged, and rated 50% or more service-connected disabled or 100% disabled, n...
Darrel Timm of Neligh and Julie Krause of Brunswick were appointed to the Antelope County Extension Board by the county commissioners, when the county leaders met last week at the Neligh courthouse. Local extension educator Brittany Spieker proposed the appointments of Timm and Krause to replace Gayle Wortman and Derek Zuhlke, who had each completed two terms on the board. The new board members were affirmed on 4-0 votes of the commissioners. Commissioner Eli Jacob was absent. Spieker also presented the annual extension office report. She...
Almost 500 new bills were introduced by members of the Legislature during the first 10 days of the legislative session. Each proposed legislation will have a public hearing before the relevant committee. The public hearing process has already started and will continue through February. I introduced five bills this year. The first three will have public hearings next week before the Natural Resources Committee and the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. LB 769 requires that each...
