Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Summerland Public School's one-act play production team will compete in the Greater Nebraska Activities Conference contest on Nov. 19 at Elkhorn Valley. Summerland is scheduled to perform at 12:30 p.m. The Bobcat team will perform "Dirge," by Jerome McDonough. The contest begins at 9 a.m., with Neligh-Oakdale taking the stage, followed by Plainview, 9:45; West Holt, 10:30; Hartington-Newcastle, 11:15; Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, 1:15; Lutheran High Northeast at 2 and EV at 2:45. The award ceremony is slated to begin at 4 p.m....
The holidays are for celebrating and Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the key role independent, locally-owned businesses play in Nebraska's economy. Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday will be Nov. 25, the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and small businesses across Nebraska have embraced Small Business Saturday and the...
Summerland School's one-act production participated in the Gator Play Production Festival, Nov. 2, in Wisner. Two Summerland actors received the Ellen Philbin Memorial awards. Brandon Pruden was named overall top actor and Julie Olivan, outstanding supporting actor. Seven Summerland students received outstanding performance recognition, including Alanna Doll, Talya Nilson, Olivan, Jadyn Hobbs, Owen Jeffords, Raina Krebs and Pruden....
Hey, ghosts and goblins. Mark your calendar for Oct. 28, in Orchard, and join in the fun at Boo Bash 2023. Beginning at 4 p.m., at the Orchard Community Center, a lineup of spooky events will offer fun for all ages. The 402 Theater Group will kick off festivities with a performance of "Spookless," a 15-minute children's play. A freewill donation will be accepted. Activities planned after the play production include trick or treating, a costume contest, games, crafts, hay rack rides and food....
Every day, Ellen Rudd ventures down to the basement of the Nebraska Wesleyan's theater building, Elder Theatre Center. She enters a whole new world – or rather, an infinite amount of worlds. Rudd doesn't have a typical job and this isn't a typical basement. Rudd is manager of the costume library, which holds an inventory of an estimated 60,000 costumes, props and shoes. Established in 1980, the costume library acts as a significant resource for theater departments in and outside of Nebraska. I...
This week, the House was set to continue its work on the 12 annual appropriations bills to ensure the government is responsibly funded. Unfortunately, our legislative work to cut wasteful spending was disrupted when a small handful of Republicans voted with Democrats to remove the speaker of the House. I voted against vacating the chair because it sets a disruptive precedent and because the House should be focused on delivering results for the American people. House Republicans already have a...
The cost of a potential outdoor storage shed to be built at Summerland School dominated a majority of the school board’s Monday evening meeting. Superintendent Kyle Finke said the “price tag might be getting up there.” Finke told the board he contacted Bob Sukup, an architect, who visited the site of a proposed 40 x 75 foot building, outfitted with a drain, water and electricity. “Do we still want that in the building?” Finke asked. The proposed structure would house pole vault and high jump...
With the official start of summer quickly approaching, The 402 Theater Group offers more opportunities for people of all ages to get involved by providing entertainment for the community. Jillian Henn, of Orchard, is one of the creators of The 402 Theatre Group. "The 402 Theater Group is a community inspired to bring the performing arts to rural communities," she said. The group started in 2022, when Orchard resident Don Lallier posted an ad around town to gather interest in starting a theater...
For more than 70 years, a stripe through the middle of the United States extending from Texas north to Nebraska was known as Tornado Alley. But meteorologists say that in the last 20 years, the alley has shifted away from the Great Plains and toward the southeast, meaning fewer tornadoes are happening in Nebraska. “Historically, Nebraska is a unique point,” Ross Dixon, an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said. “Where we are in Nebraska, maybe there will be less severe storms, espec...
Faith King, of Clearwater, has been awarded a Career Scholars Program Scholarship valued at $24,000 to continue her education at Wayne State College. King will be a graduate of Summerland High School in 2023. She is the daughter of Brian and Chantel King. King is involved in multiple extracurricular activities at Summerland School, including SkillsUSA, one-act play production, speech, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Seminar, Cornhusker...
A world premiere took place in Orchard, Dec. 17, when the 402 Theater Group presented "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." The 10-minute holiday play, inspired by the Christmas song, opened Dec. 17 at the Orchard Community Center. The script was penned by Orchard resident Don Lallier. Cast members included Jersey Grey, Jillian Henn, Raeley Meyer and Gunnar Shabram. Lynae Stelling provided musical accompaniment and Derek Henn assisted backstage. Following the production, Santa Claus paid a visit...
The Nebraska School Activities Association recently announce the student recipients of the Fall 2022-2023 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association Academic All-State Awards. Since 2006, this NSAA awards program has recognized students who meet the criteria for nomination by their schools in the season of their activity. Each year, NSAA and NCPA recognize students during fall, winter and spring seasons who are nominated by their schools for their individual academic excellence, leadership and significant contributions in the NSAA activity...
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...
Fitting in, finding acceptance and making critical choices - as told by a group of misfits struggling with the consequences of bullying - is the message of Summerland's 2022 play production, "Freak." Monique, played by senior Brynna Umphress, describes a scene she faces each day at 10:43 in "the scariest place on earth," the school hallway. The constant torment wears on her psyche. The character says, "I know I should just suck it up and ignore it. Just pretend ... What did I do? What makes me...
Summerland's play production team competed in two contests last week, bringing home first- and fourth-place awards. On Nov. 15, the team traveled to Neligh to compete in the Niobrara Valley Conference meet, where they ended in fourth. Eight students received honorable mention acting awards, including Faith King, Lenora Kester, Carlee Livingston, Alanna Doll, Julie Olivan, Bryna Umphress, Olga Mendoza and Ashley Melcher. After making adjustments, the team competed in the Eagle Invite, Saturday,...
Ewing businessman Dustin Wright is the new owner of the former Ewing School property. Summerland School Board of Education members approved his $50,000 bid, Sept. 14, during the board's monthly meeting. The bid includes the former elementary and high school buildings and grounds, an empty lot southeast of the high school and the football field. Summerland Superintendent Kyle Finke said four bids were received by the Sept. 8 deadline. In addition to Wright's offer, bids were received from Randy...
Disney claims, "Beauty and the Beast" is "the most beautiful love story ever told." The O'Neill Community Theater had a busy summer with practices, and was rewarded by crowds supporting performances of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," Sunday, July 17 and Monday, July 18, in O'Neill. The North Central Nebraska Arts Council chose "Beauty and the Beast" to be performed during O'Neill's Summerfest celebration. Two Summerland English teachers fell into the roles of being directors for the musical. "I...
Growing up on a hill overlooking North Omaha during World War II, Mary Carpenter remembers the numerous vegetable plots, called victory gardens, that dotted her Florence neighborhood. “Everybody had one,” said Carpenter, the reporter’s mother-in-law. “We grew everything - asparagus, potatoes, tomatoes, black raspberries, pears, even grapes. That’s what fed us and supplemented our food.” Over the ensuing decades, many of those gardens disappeared as grocery stores started carrying seasonal produce year round. Yet 80 years later, everything...
To the Class of 2022: Wear sunscreen. Wait. That’s a line from some 90s commencement address-turned- song. It’s good advice, though, so tuck it in your memory bank for later use. Years ago, when I was preparing to talk a walk across the stage and shake the principal’s hand as he extended a signed diploma, my guidance counselor told the group of seniors, “School is your first job. How did it prepare you for the world?” Excellent question. With that in mind, consider this your exit interview...
Watching a couple episodes of the CW (now on Netflix) telenovela, “Jane the Virgin,” got me thinking. Life is one big soap opera, a dramedy full of ups and downs, mixed with moments of mediocrity. Nothing wrong with watching one, either. Sometimes, it’s okay to escape to a world that seems safe, maybe even a fun location to visit (in this case, Miami) ... unless Rafael’s step-mother-turned-crime-boss known as Sin Rostro, or his drug lord mother (who deserted him after receiving $10 million...
Summerland play production team's production of Zink: The Myth, The Legend, The Zebra finished third at the Niobrara Valley Conference East Divison One-Act Contest, Nov. 16, at Elgin Pope John. The Bobcat's play received ranks of first, third and third and tallied 169 rating points. Neligh-Oakdale's presentation of Puberty: The Game Show earned ranks of one, two and five and received 170 rating points to take home the conference championship. Pope John kept the runner-up trophy, edging out out S...
Summerland’s play production team will compete in the C2-3 district play competition, Wednesday, Dec. 1. The Bobcats will perform at 9 a.m. Schools in the district include Creighton, Pender, Neligh-Oakdale, Plainview, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Burwell and Humphrey. The winner of the contest will advance to the 2021 Nebraska School Activities Association Play Production Contest, at the Johnny Carson Theatre, in Norfolk. Class C2 is scheduled for compete Thursday, Dec. 9, with performances slated to begin at 2:15 p.m. Class C1 will perform t...
Emma Kerkman, a Summerland-Clearwater junior, will represent Clearwater American Legion Post 267 Auxiliary at the 2021 session of Cornhusker Girls State. She is the daughter of Kelly and Amy Kerkman. Kerkman applied for Girls' State because the annual event, which focuses on citizenship and government education, because it offers "a great opportunity and a great experience. "I feel like you can get a lot out of Girls State and make amazing friendships," Kerman said. "Although COVID has put some...
A memorial visitation service for Lamont Larson, 93, of Tilden, will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Peace United Church of Christ, in Tilden, with Pastor Melanie Miller officiating. A remembrance service is planned for 3 p.m. Private graveside services at the Oakdale Cemetery, in Oakdale, will be held at a later date. Per Lamont's requests, visitors are asked to wear red or Husker apparel to the visitation. Lamont died Thursday, Dec. 31, at Community Pride Care Center in Battle...
A memorial visitation service for Lamont Larson, 93, of Tilden, Nebraska, will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Peace United Church of Christ, in Tilden, with Pastor Melanie Miller officiating. Private graveside services at the Oakdale Cemetery, in Oakdale, Nebraska, will be held at a later date. Per Lamont's requests, visitors are asked to wear red or Husker apparel to the visitation. Lamont died Thursday, Dec. 31, at Community Pride Care Center in Battle Creek. Lamont Larson was...
