Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 95
Summerland School students and staff will receive an early Christmas gift this season. The final day of first-semester classes has been adjusted and holiday break will officially commence once school is dismissed, Thursday, Dec. 17. Superintendent Dale Martin reported administration requested a calendar change, “due to our staff working so hard first semester in dealing with COVID and everything that they have been asked to do as a result.” “December 18 had been scheduled as a half day for s...
If you know me well, you know that fall - primarily football season - is one of my favorite times of the year. My family has a long-standing relationship with Husker football. Before the ‘rents married, Dad purchased box seats, near the field of Memorial Stadium. He didn’t miss a game. Once they were hitched, they became season ticket holders and since 1955, someone from our family could be found sitting in our west stadium seats. Dad always said he should have requested four tickets ins...
The coronavirus pandemic has laid much of the American economy on its back - but a bright spot made the disaster less crippling than it might have been. That is the Paycheck Protection Program, which funneled money to workers through small businesses. More than five million small businesses took the PPP loans, representing 50 million jobs, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress in June. It persuaded small businesses to keep people on the payroll instead of laying them off. That helped...
College students are choosing to take advantage of an opportunity to add additional credits between the fall and spring semesters this year by enrolling in a course or two during a time they would normally be on break. At Northeast Community College, registration is underway for an optional six-week intersession that will run from late November through mid-January, with a break in between for the holidays. As of Nov. 19, more than 260 students have enrolled in more than 1,000 credit hours during the intersession. This is the first time the coll...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE "We recently increased the number of patient rooms that have air-disinfectant units, from four to eight, in our COVID unit here at Antelope Memorial Hospital," said Diane Carlin, AMH chief executive officer. "The units are used to destroy viruses to include COVID-19. Plus, four of the eight rooms have double patient capacities. If needed, this would allow us to care for up to 12 patients with the virus at a time." Air disinfectant units take in air which is run through a HEPA...
Public health restrictions in the state will take a phased approach, based on the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. The plan, which went into effect Monday, was announced Nov. 13, by Governor Pete Ricketts. "The cases we have are rising. The virus is in our community and the hospitalizations are rising," Ricketts said,. On Nov. 12, 905 individuals with the virus filled Nebraska hospital beds. The number represents approximately 20% of overall hospital beds filled...
Antelope County is looking into improving courthouse security to better protect its employees. County treasurer Deb Branstiter spoke to the board of commissioners Tuesday, Oct. 13, about purchasing and installing new security windows and related items for various offices inside the courthouse in Neligh. "I recently traveled to Cedar County and Knox County," Branstiter said. "In June, I called six different contractors and got varying responses." Representatives from Glass Edge Inc. of Norfolk...
Front-line health care workers and individuals with underlying health conditions will be the first Nebraskans to receive a coronavirus vaccine, once approved. Gov. Pete Ricketts announced, during a Monday press conference, the state's vaccination plan was submitted to the federal government prior to the Oct. 16 federal deadline. "Part of the planning includes an efficient distribution network for the vaccine so as quickly as the vaccine arrives, they can get into the arms of Nebraskans," said...
Misty Nilson is of the opinion that women should take their breast cancer screenings seriously, especially if they have a family history of the disease. The 54-year-old Ewing woman has been free of breast cancer for four years as of this October, which also happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Because breast cancer runs in her family, Nilson began to undergo yearly screenings for the disease during her late 30s. The American Cancer Society and other similar organizations recommend women...
Governor Pete Ricketts announced Tuesday, new grant programs to continue growing Nebraska in the midst of the disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the State of Nebraska received $1.084 billion in federal assistance to address coronavirus-related needs. Funds are being used to assist in the state’s direct response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as providing assistance to Nebraska businesses, non-profits and public healthcare providers who have been adversely impacted due to the pandemic. Ricketts...
The orange, green and white orbs lining the driveway to Lambert Melons are a sign of the fall season. With the arrival of autumn, that means the time has come again for the rural Ewing farm's fall festival, called Lambert's Annual Pumpkin Patch and Hayrides. This year's event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Lambert family farm, which is located about 20 miles southwest of Ewing at 49343 852 Road. The three main activities the fall festival will...
Despite bipartisan support, rural small businesses and communities with loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program will not be included in the latest stimulus package for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The updated Heroes Act, introduced Monday in the U.S. House of Representatives, does not include provisions outlined in the Rural Equal Aid Act. “Rural small businesses continue to feel the effects of the pandemic and, while they are doing their best to keep the doors open, they are hurting,” said...
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...
Summerland School officials announced Monday all students in grades preschool through 12th grade will be required to wear masks. The decision came about following an increase in COVID cases and exposures in the district and surrounding communities, according to an alert sent to district patrons at approximately 4:35 p.m. On Monday, the North Central District Health Department announced 41 additional cases were reported in the district, including 10 cases in each Antelope and Holt counties. Other...
Despite being pushed back two weeks and having health precautions in place, not even a pandemic could prevent Clearwater’s Big Rodeo from taking place in 2020, drawing competitors from across Nebraska and seven other states. Mid-States Rodeo Association members recognized Clearwater’s 53rd Big Rodeo as 2020 Rodeo of the Year. Chamber members received the award, Sunday, in Broken Bow, at the conclusion of the Mid-States Finals Rodeo. Rodeo chairman Gene Snodgrass said it is the 10th time Cle...
Area residents will have an opportunity to donate blood or platelets during upcoming drives planned in the area. Many blood drives have been canceled, due to the pandemic, putting the blood supply at a critical level. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Red Cross personnel will be in Clearwater, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the American Legion. To schedule an appointment, contact Wendy Benson at 402-319-2673 or visit redcrossblood.org to sign up. While appointments are preferred, walk-ins are welcome. Ewing...
Small businesses continue to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. While they are doing their best to keep the doors open, they are hurting. That is especially true in our rural towns. Congress has acted to provide businesses with loans through the Small Business Administration six months of payment forgiveness. This is a lifeline for big city enterprises, but it doesn’t help rural entrepreneurs. That is because many rural businesses do not have access to an SBA lender and must borrow f...
When students returned to school Aug. 13, they were greeted by new faces in the classroom. Four staff members are based at the Summerland - Clearwater site: Whitney Beacom, Jacob Birch, Jayde Haburchak and Scott Kraus. Tabetha Frank and Heidi Nelson are instructors at the Summerland - Ewing site. Here’s a look at new teachers joining the district in 2020-2021: Whitney Beacom Sixth grade - Clearwater Hometown: Born in Fremont Residence: Neligh Education: Received Bachelor of Science degree in M...
In the past five months, Congress has responded to the coronavirus public health crisis with several emergency relief measures, including the stimulus checks sent to individuals and households, payroll protections to small businesses, expanded unemployment payments, fee waivers for borrowing against 401(K) plans and more. Now, Congress will get the opportunity to pass a relief measure that protects your access to trustworthy local news, helps grow local businesses through ads placed in local...
Emotions ran high again this week, as legislators tried to complete their priorities during the last few days of this legislative session. As I had hoped, the Revenue Committee advanced a package that joined property tax relief, business tax incentives and a major project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This proposal was contained in a compromise amendment to LB 1107, a placeholder bill introduced by the Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk. The current Property T...
The Legislature passed the budget bills this past week, containing their recommendations for adjustments to the biennial budget that was passed last year. Now it will be up to the governor whether he signs the legislation or uses his line-item veto authority. Earlier in the week, senators gave second-round approval to the budget bills after a lengthy debate. An amendment to LB 1008 was offered by Omaha Senator Machaela Cavanaugh to direct how the remaining funding from the federal Coronavirus...
Luna Stephens and Katie Anderson Nebraska News Service During the Nebraska Legislature’s second week back in session, senators advanced the state’s budget to final reading. Senators also attempted to bring new pieces of legislation to address pandemic-related issues like evictions and regulations for meatpacking workers. State budget Senators advanced two state budget bills to final reading on July 28 including $55.2 million for damage from the 2019 floods, $10 million to the rural workforce housing investment fund and $3.7 million inc...
Luna Stephens and Katie Anderson Nebraska News Service Senators passed two state budget bills on July 31 including $55.2 million for damage from the 2019 floods, $10 million to the rural workforce housing investment fund and $3.7 million increase in developmental disability provider rates. LB1008, presented by Speaker Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk at the request of Gov. Pete Ricketts, is the $9.4 billion mainline state budget bill. After final reading, bills are submitted to the governor. The governor must sign, veto or line item veto the budget...
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....
St. Peter Lutheran Fellowship Hall, in Orchard, will be the site for a blood drive, scheduled for Monday, July 20. Donations will be accepted between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Rita Shabram will contact donors to make appointments. She may be reached at 402-893-2691. Donors may also make an appointment on the blood donor app or by visiting redcrossblood.org and searching for the Orchard drive. Social distancing guidelines will be in place. Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins will be accepted only...
