Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Online learning seems new, but it’s older than you think. The field’s predecessor, distance education, can be traced back centuries. From Sir Isaac Pitman, who taught shorthand by correspondence in 1840, to lectures broadcast on the radio in the early 1920s, all the way through to the early 1990s when colleges and universities took advantage of the newly minted World Wide Web and began to offer online education programs, it has evolved alongside technological advances. In those early days of the internet, online learning was an adjustment for...
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...
Doris Neal 1934 - 2024 Doris Neal, formerly of Worthington, Minnesota, died July 22, 2024, in Lincoln, at age 89. She was born Sept. 3, 1934, in Knowlton, Iowa, the daughter of Viola Snider and Ellis Yaryan. She lived in Knowlton and various places until the age of 10, when the family moved to Clearwater. Doris graduated from Clearwater High School in 1953 was the class salutatorian. Her love of learning and academics continued as she began her 35-year career as a teacher. On Dec. 24, 1954, she...
Half of U.S. children depend on government programs for health care, and in some states, they're beginning to lose that coverage at rates that have concerned the federal government. Foothold Technology analyzed data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state health departments collected by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families to illustrate which states have allowed children to lose health care at an alarmingly fast pace. Passed in March 2020, the...
The beginning of high school is time for young people to discover who they are and learn how to lead. Having the chance to join clubs, organizations and take part in special programs allows youth to figure out who they are. "Unfortunately, as a 2023 graduate, class members never got to fully experience what high school is really like. For me, the lack of experience meant I was lost amongst the crowd and really didn't feel confident in who I was," said Faith King. In 2020, freshman year was cut...
In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Biden did not have the constitutional authority to mass transfer up to $400 billion in student loan debt from borrowers to American taxpayers. Rather than properly acknowledge the ruling of the court, earlier this year, the president unveiled a new student loan forgiveness plan, again handing the bill to hardworking Americans. Biden’s new plan already faces similar legal challenges on which the Supreme Court will likely again weigh in. Many Ne...
April 24 saw a short criminal docket in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. The Honorable James Kube sentenced two individuals, sustained a motion to withdraw a not guilty plea and two motions to continue. Haiden Sleister, 22, who was ordered by Kube to reside at the Norfolk Rescue Mission when he appeared in March, admitted violating provisions of post-release supervision as part of a plea deal with Smith. In return, the prosecutor recommended one year of incarceration. Kube revoked Sleister’s PRS and sentenced him to a o...
The Honorable Donna Taylor handed sentences down from the county court bench in Neligh last Wednesday, Feb.7. Joe Hurd served as prosecutor in the absence of Antelope County attorney Joe Smith. Kegan J. McAllister, 19, of Tilden faced Taylor for sentencing on a count of third-degree domestic assault, committed July 6, 2023. Antelope County public defender Pat Carney asked the judge to consider probation. He said the assault was not a “fist to cuffs type of thing.” Taylor noted a presentence report did not recommend probation because of sev...
TAYLOR – Bailley Leibert walks into civics class and plops her sunflower-print backpack onto an empty table. The 15-year-old rummages for her notebook and colored pens. Around her are enough chairs to seat 10 students. But today, and every day, there are nine empty seats. It's just the ninth-grader and social studies teacher Ken Wright – an unintentional private lesson for the only freshman in this school. At Loup County High School, Bailley is the sole member of the class of 2027. The cla...
Since we're writers, we, at SAM love lists. Trust us, we keep and use them every single day. But, how does one determine which articles should be at the top of the yearly list? In the past, we've based it by reader count from our website. This year, we're still relying on reader count, featuring the top-read article by month. We wrote nearly 2,000 articles in 2023 and, while some of our favorites don't appear on the list, we're sure these are a newsworthy representation of the Summerland region....
Plans to renovate the Clearwater American Legion building will continue. On Sunday, Sons of the American Legion members Tom Thiele and Fred Thiele told a group of approximately 30 community members that pledges for fundraising have been coming in. “Contributions have been really good,” Fred Thiele said. Clearwater Chamber of Commerce donated $100,000 and the Clearwater Sons of the American Legion kicked in $25,000, in addition to pledges for the project. Thiele estimated approximately $25...
Kierra Bearinger, a 2020 graduate of the last senior class of Clearwater High School, and Kirsten Krebs, a 2021 Elgin Pope John High School graduate, have been named winners of the Schuchardt Family Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. Bearinger, the daughter of Jarod and Tammy Bearinger of Clearwater, graduates in spring 2024 with a degree in elementary and early childhood education in the College of Education and Human Sciences. She completes her second-grade student teaching at...
Two Stuart men received prison sentences for crimes committed in 2020, 2021 and 2022, when they appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill, on Oct. 16. Jacob J. Dobias, 34, was sentenced to not less than six years nor more than 12 years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for his conviction of a Class 2 felony, first-degree sexual assault, committed July 2, 2021. He was given credit for four days previously served in the Holt County Jail. He was o...
Pepper W. Marchant, 25, of Neligh was sentenced to one and one-half years in the county jail when he appeared for resentencing on his original December 2020 conviction of four Class 1 misdemeanors, Count I, assault public safety officer with bodily fluid, counts II and III assault and Count V, obstructing a peace officer. On Aug. 2, Marchant was found to be in violation of terms of a 24-month probation sentence ordered in February 2021 that had been extended by six months in June 2022 for violations. Marchant tested positive for THC before his...
Funeral services for Larry A. Schroth, 73, of Brunswick, were held Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Brunswick Congregational Church, with Pastor Robert Moore officiating. Burial was in West Willowdale Cemetery. Larry died Aug. 5, at his home. Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home handled arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.beyersnidermemorialfh.com. ~~~~~ Larry Allen Schroth was born March 17, 1950, at Tilden to Clair William and Lorraine Alberta (Forbes) Schroth He was raised...
Lauren Behnk, of Clearwater, always knew she wanted to travel and experience life outside of Nebraska, especially in a Spanish-speaking country. Several people introduced travel as a way to study on Behnk's radar. Leenda Thiele, Behnk's high school Spanish teacher, shared her journey of coming to the states from Puerta Rico. Thiele encouraged her to experience travel for a better opportunity to learn. Behnk's cousin, Valley, also traveled and spurred her interest in seeing the world. Finally,...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, when he presided from the bench of the Holt County court in O’Neill on April 11, set aside a conviction for Rebecca D. Strong, 48, of Ewing. The action nullifies Strong’s October 2020 conviction of a Class 2 misdemeanor, theft by deception. Burdick ruled that Strong is “unlikely to engage in further criminal activity and it is in her best interest and is consistent with the public interest” to grant the request. In her petition for set aside, Strong said she successfully completed probation, had no further convict...
Funeral services for Merle J. Sehi, 83, of Elgin, were held Tuesday, March 21, at St. John's Catholic Church, rural Clearwater, with Rev. John Norman officiating. Interment followed at St. Patrick's Cemetery, rural Clearwater. Merle died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Levander Funeral Home, of Elgin, was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.levanderfuneralhome.com. ~~~~~ Merle John Sehi, son of Albert J. and Erma (Zegers) Sehi, was born...
After 40 years as a doctor interacting with patients, in the last two and a half years the tables turned, and I’ve become the patient. Although most are good, I’ve found some doctors are detached, some are too quick, some would rather be somewhere else, some are even angry; but, when a physician who cares walks into the room, and I’m not exaggerating, the day becomes better, the pain becomes less and hope fills my heart. Scientific knowledge is important, but the ability to convey honest conce...
Funeral services for Merle J. Sehi, 83, of Elgin, will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 21, at St. John's Catholic Church, rural Clearwater, with Rev. John Norman officiating. Interment will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery, rural Clearwater. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., Monday at the church, with a 7 p.m. wake service. Merle died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Levander Funeral Home, of Elgin, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at...
NORFOLK – One of the last bus drivers in Norfolk begins his day by taking Nancy Stehlik to work. Wrapped in a purple coat and earmuffs, Stehlik inches her walker onto the small bus’s wheelchair lift. Driver Neil Schlecht pushes a button and the lift whirs down, placing Stehlik outside of work. For the rest of the day, he takes seven people to clinics, church and the grocery store. He jokes with riders just as he’s long done as a driver for North Fork Area Transit, the bus service which, until recently, used 35 buses and vans to give as many...
A 25-year-old Norfolk man had his first court appearance last week on allegations of theft, criminal mischief and trespassing at a rural Clearwater location. Benjamin T. Smith faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courthouse in Neligh on Feb. 1, for arraignment on three counts alleged Jan. 6, about eight miles northeast of Clearwater, at 85824 519 Avenue. Smith’s charges include: Count I, theft, 0 - $500, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, criminal mischief, 0 - $500, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count III, second-degree t...
The Honorable Mark Kozisec signed a bench warrant Feb. 3 for the arrest of a 31-year-old Stuart man, who failed to appear in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill. The warrant includes an order for a $10,000 cash bond. Joshua A. Boettcher was set for sentencing Jan. 30 in three cases, including an initial sentencing on six counts committed May 7, 2022, possession of methamphetamine, a Class 4 felony; operating motor vehicle during revocation, subsequent offense; no proof of financial responsibility and no valid registration, all m...
KEARNEY – Nicole Strope loves to learn. She proved that last week by completing her third degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. "I can't stop going to school," the English language arts teacher joked. Strope first enrolled at UNK in 2011, back when she wanted to be a therapist. The Bridgeport native liked the university's location – not too far from home – as well as the size of the campus and community. "The class sizes at UNK are big enough that you're getting more of a chall...
A felony case against Justin M. Golter, 47, was dismissed in Antelope County court last week. Golter is currently incarcerated at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler filed a document Dec. 5, dismissing a 2022 Class 1D felony charge, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The charge stemmed from meth allegedly found in a vehicle Golter had driven to the courthouse Aug. 31, the day he fled from officers after a district court appearance for a similar...
