Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Bill Tielke will serve as chairman of Holt County Supervisors, who elected him to the position for 2023 during a statutory session, Jan. 5, at the Holt County Courthouse. Doug Frahm will chair the county's board of equalization. Supervisors approved board of representatives and delegates, as well as committee assignments for 2023, including: • Bonds: Darrin Paxton, Frahm, Tielke; • Bridge: Frahm, Paxton and Scott Keyes; • Claims: Frahm (chair) and the entire board; Courthouse: Frahm, Dusti...
Here we are sandwiched between Christmas and New Year. Time to take stock of what we've been through as it impacts what lies ahead. In case you were somehow fortunate enough to sleep through it, 2022 was an election year. A couple really rich guys and some others ran for the Republican nomination for governor to replace term-limited Deep Pockets Pete Ricketts who still managed to throw enough money around to have an influence. Before you get all upset by that, remember that I have said before it isn’t illegal to spend his own money or the f...
The farmer was growing impatient. He and dozens of other central Nebraska farmers had gathered for mandatory training in Columbus a few weeks before last Christmas. In response to high nitrate levels, the Lower Loup Natural Resources District had designated a "Phase 3 area." That led to new requirements – like this training to help farmers manage their nitrogen fertilizer use. The farmer didn't like this. He told NRD leaders he had been drinking water containing nitrate at 40 parts per m...
After sifting line by line through proposed zoning regulations, Holt County Supervisors approved changes for regulations regarding pipelines, carbon pipelines and wind energy. Proposed regulations for solar energy were sent back to the county's planning and zoning board for additional information during the Nov. 16 meeting. Pipeline regulations Proposed regulations update the definition of pipeline to include crude oil, tar sands and affluents. Per regulations, a pipeline will be "any pipe with...
ORDINANCE NO. 2022-17 VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER, NEBRASKA TO AMEND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ADOPT A WORKFORCE HOUSING PLAN; TO REPEAL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; TO PROVIDE WHEN THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ORDINANCE IN PAMPHLET FORM. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CHAIRPERSON AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER, NEBRASKA: SECTION 1. That the Board of Trustees, has by Ordinance, adopted an Economic...
Two initiative measures - one requiring photographic identification, one increasing minimum wage - were passed by Nebraska voters during the Nov. 8 General Election. Initiative 432 amends Nebraska's constitution, to require voters to "present valid photographic identification" prior to voting. Nebraska's Legislature will hammer out the details, according to language in the measure. Voters also approved Initiative 433, which will gradually raise the state's minimum wage from the current rate of...
Local journalism is a cornerstone of democracy and a vital source of information for communities across the country, with newsrooms covering local politics, high school sports, local business openings, cultural events, and other matters that help a community remain vibrant and connected. But the industry is facing an existential crisis because of the unyielding power of Big Tech platforms, such as Google and Facebook. With less than four weeks left in this Congress, now is the time for the Senate to pass the Journalism Competition and...
The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce will continue to develop plans for a proposed building at the organization’s rodeo grounds. The size of the building is yet to be decided, following a vote of members at the chamber’s Nov. 1 meeting. President Curt Thiele said the organization entered a purchase agreement, with Carla and Eli Jacob, for approximately 1.73 acres adjacent to the chamber property during July. Then, plans were devised to construct a 60-foot by 50 -foot building, which would hou...
By the time this edition of SAM hits your mailbox, election results should be completed and canvassing boards will have or will be scheduled to meet to verify results. I did my civic duty and cast a ballot. Did you? I haven’t missed an election since I hit that magic age of 18. I also perfomed a second civic duty prior to the election and it’s an experience I encourage any registered voter to undertake. After several discussions, over multiple years, about election processes, with Antelope Cou...
Native Americans in Lincoln and their supporters are continuing their fight against the Wilderness Crossing development set to be built near Wilderness Park. The legal team for the Niskithe Prayer Camp, which formed to protest the city's support for Wilderness Crossing, is deciding how to respond to the latest legal development and hopes to take action soon, said Rose Godinez, senior legal and policy counsel for ACLU Nebraska. Additionally, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Lory Dance...
Polls open at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, for voters to cast ballots in the 2022 general election. Summerland-area precincts include the American Legion, Clearwater precinct; city hall, Ewing precinct; fire hall, Orchard precinct; fire hall, Page precinct and Royal Auditorium, Royal precinct. Races on the midterm ballot include local and state offices. On the state level, area voters will select a representative for the third district, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state,...
Dear editor: Education is the key, and the fix is local. We the people have the power to control our elections at the county level as stated in Nebraska Legislature Article 3, Sec 18 of the Nebraska Constitution states: The Legislature shall not pass local or special laws in any of the following cases: Regulating county and township offices. Providing for the election of officers in townships, incorporated towns or cities. The opening and conducting of any election or designating the place of voting. Our county clerk states it’s unlawful to m...
LINCOLN — Nebraska does not require people to present a photo ID at a poll booth on Election Day. Ballot Initiative 432, a bill that caused contention for members of Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, is designed to change that. The last of three hearings for this initiative took place Tuesday, Oct. 16, when seven proponents and 11 opponents testified in front of Secretary of State Bob Evnen. Appearing on Nebraska’s ballot in the Nov. 8 election, this initiative would require a physical ID, with photo identification, to cast a vote, which...
Dialogue between Antelope County Commissioners and members of the Antelope County Patriot group became contentious, at times, during the Oct. 11 commissioners’ meeting in Neligh. Prior to the Patriots’ presentation, county attorney Joe Abler suggested the board enter executive session to review a letter from Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, regarding clarification of terms in the state’s election statutes. Following executive session, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, audie...
It's back. Yik Yak, a social media app shut down in 2017 following incidents of bullying on high school and college campuses, has reinvented itself and is blowing up once again. Created in November 2013, Yik Yak was the brainchild of two college students in South Carolina who intended the app to be beneficial for college students. After changes were made to limit anonymous postings, use significantly dropped off. Essentially, the app allows any user to create "Yaks," or anonymous threads. App...
The North Central District Health Department board of health faced several questions from some of its own membership, Friday, when the group met in O'Neill. Concerns about the structure of the board of health and powers granted to an unidentified executive committee, legal representation, the district's computer system policies and lack of complete inventory, were expressed. James Ward, a Cherry County Commissioner serving on NCDHD's board, asked what action was taken, and when, to form an...
Voter integrity was yet again a topic of discussion when Antelope County Commissioners met, Sept. 6, in Neligh. Chairman Charlie Henry opened the floor to Sheryl Baker, who yielded her time to Mike Seier, who spoke about materials presented by Antelope County Patriots at the previous board meeting. Commissioner Regina Krebs questioned information that had the official tally with a "true" number, and she was interested where that number came from. According to Connie Baker, the information came...
A group of individuals concerned about voter integrity addressed Holt County Supervisors, Aug. 31, about the possibility of handcounting ballots. Chairman Bill Tielke told the gallery of 35 visitors the board was not required to make a decision following public comment. Grace Coleman, of Atkinson, told supervisors she is concerned about the safety of this November’s election. “If we cannot be assured that our elections are secure and no one has changed any results, then we just as well con...
Nebraska voters looking beyond the two major political parties and a Libertarian could have a fourth choice on November's general election ballot for governor. Long-odds candidate David Wright of Ewing is trying to get on - as a nonpartisan candidate. Wright, a former Republican who has re-registered as a nonpartisan, should hear next week if he turned in enough valid signatures to petition onto the fall ballot. Wright spoke at a Kearney event organized, in July by the Nebraska Freedom...
How much should Antelope County’s road superintendent be paid annually? Conversation about wages for Aaron Boggs, who fills the position, filled approximately 30 minutes of discussion, Aug. 24, when the commissioners met to discuss budgeting for next year. A committe, comprised of commissioners Dean Smith and Regina Krebs, met with Boggs and reviewed pay for the same position in surrounding counties. “Our suggestion for the road superintendent will be his salary will be the same as the cou...
Whoever wins the bid for the former Ewing School property will own all of it - two school buildings, a vacant tract which sits catty-corner to the former high school and a football field. Summerland Board of Education members voted 6-0, during its Aug. 16 meeting, to take bids on the property and authorized Superintendent Kyle Finke to work with legal counsel to finalize the bid process. The motion followed a 40-minute executive session. A legal notice for the property sale is listed on Page 8...
Should ballots cast in Antelope County elections be counted by hand instead of by machine? Members of the Antelope County Patriots filled the Antelope County commissioners' meeting room, Aug 9, to discuss those questions and other election procedures. Sheryl Baker approached the board and yielded her time to Professor David Clements, of New Mexico, and Connie Reinke with the Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project. Clements introduced himself as a former law professor at New Mexico State University, a...
Orchard village trustees discussed concerns about buckling gym floors and heating and cooling systems during a special meeting held July 25, at 6 p.m., at the former school site. Edges of the floor have been buckling from humidity, due to asbestos tiles below. In the past, Tony Tabbert, the school’s janitor, cut the floor, flipped tiles to relieve pressure, then glued it back down. Trustees discussed blocking edges of the gym for laser tag during Orchard Celebration Days, to prevent people f...
ORDINANCE NO. 439 VILLAGE OF EWING An ordinance of the Village of Ewing, Nebraska, adopting zoning regulations, a zoning map and an extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction map for the Village of Ewing, Nebraska, pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §19-901, providing when said ordinance shall become effective and repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith. Be it ordained by the chairman and board of trustees of the Village of Ewing Nebraska. Section 1. There is hereby zoning regulations for the Village of Ewing, Nebraska, which shall be designated as...
The Village of Ewing will not be the new owners of the former Ewing School site. One item - discussion of Ewing school property - appeared on the agenda for a special meeting, held Friday, July 22, at 8 a.m., at the Ewing city hall. Village Chairman James Ramold told trustees he, along with trustee Kane Fry, met with Summerland School superintendent, Kyle Finke, earlier in the week. "They rejected all the offers at their (school board) last meeting. It sounds like the school board wants to...
