Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail section west of Norfolk now has reopened to the public after repairs were made to stabilize the embankment and trail surface from the 2019 flood. The damage occurred near the trail bridge over the Elkhorn River about 3.75 miles west of the Ta-Ha-Zouka Park trailhead in Norfolk. Beginning in Norfolk and spanning 321 miles west to Chadron, the Cowboy Trail is one of the largest Rails-to-Trails projects in the United States. The trail is developed between...
Clearwater village trustees reviewed the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget during a special workshop, held Aug. 7, at the fire hall meeting room. Accountant Gina Northcutt reviewed estimated revenue for the year, totaling $216,302.86. Village clerk Angie Hupp and maintenance man Troy Behnke discussed items they would like to see included in the budget, including potential accounting software, security cameras for the village office, a laptop that could be shared between the clerk and maintenance department, repairs for the library and office...
The Legislature’s General Affairs Committee took a half step Monday toward letting the public vote on the future of online sports betting in Nebraska. But the committee’s decision to punt a companion bill means any vote will likely wait until after the November election. The amended version of Legislative Resolution 3CA stopped short of letting voters decide the issue all at once. Instead, they would be asked to give the Legislature the constitutional authority to decide the issue. The amendment from State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, a Democr...
Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, southeast of Burwell in Valley County, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the building of the fort with a special event Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. In September 1874, U.S. military soldiers and hired civilian workers began construction on an infantry outpost on the edge of the Sandhills. Now, Fort Hartsuff's original and reconstructed buildings stand as one of the most complete examples of forts from the Plains Indian Wars. With lime/concrete buildings, wide...
The potential for economic growth, job creation and additional tax revenue for rural communities continues to drive interest in renewable energy development across the country. But, as some decision makers are learning, there are other ways such projects can positively impact a community. Rural leaders in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, for example, have negotiated Community Benefit Agreements to receive additional funding, scholarships and local donations. The project-specific agreements are negotiated between community groups and...
The Clearwater Rough Stock Challenge will add a few new features for its fourth-annual event, Saturday, Aug. 17. Competition is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Gene Snodgrass Arena, located along West Highway 275. A calcutta will be held at 7 p.m., prior to the first event. Elgin Livestock auctioneer, Ted Baum, will handle auction duties. Justin Rumford, 10-time PRCA Pro Rodeo Clown of the Year will entertain the crowd between riders. "He'll be a hit with the crowd," said chamber president...
Clearwater village officials have been given the go-ahead from an Antelope County court to proceed with cleaning up a junk-ridden lot that has long been considered a nuisance. District court judge James Kube entered the order last Wednesday, allowing the village to cause cleanup of property owned by CW and Amy Schonemann, at 307 Montana Street, and charge Schonemanns for expense incurred. The order came after a tense hearing in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. CW Schonemann was committed to the Antelope County Jail in Neligh...
At first glance, the mural adorning the wall in the Bunker Bar, inside the newly-remodeled Clearwater Legion, looks familiar. Artist Shannon Schumacher of Clearwater said there are slight differences to the original version he painted nearly a decade ago. "The sky is different," he said. "And the arch of the bunker." When he first met with Clearwater Sons of the American Legion officials to discuss the original design, a bunker was mentioned. Schumacher drew inspiriation for the bunker from a...
The United States Geological Survey and agencies from four states recently announced low-level airplane flights in the Central Great Plains. Scientists from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska are partnering to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The aircraft and crews being used are currently being flown out of the O'Neill Airport. The geophysical survey will focus on the buried Spirit Lake tectonic zone, centered in the area between Sioux Fall sand Omaha. The region is...
Jackie Poulsen, also known as Jack Poulsen, 71, of Ericson was sentenced Aug. 1, in federal court in Lincoln, for bank fraud, United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced recently. U.S. District Judge Susan Bazis sentenced Poulsen to 18 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system. Poulsen was additionally ordered to pay $815,000 in restitution. Poulsen was the president of Ericson State Bank from June 2010 until September 2019....
Phil Whitmarsh starts a lot of conversations with an offbeat question: Have you ever played a 500-year-old guitar? Eventually, he'll hand you Mary Kate. The instrument resembles a Fender Telecaster, the six-string synonymous with Americana twang and favored by artists like Bruce Springsteen. Mary Kate looks and plays like a Telecaster, but the sound is different. It's the wood, says Whitmarsh. That wood once helped hold up the old Woolworth warehouse in Omaha's historic Old Market. In a few...
United States Attorney Susan Lehr recently announced that Moody Motor Co., Inc., located in Niobrara, was sentenced on July 31, in federal court in Omaha, for accessory after the fact to a Clean Air Act violation. U.S. District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Moody Motor Co., Inc. to a one-year term of probation, a $39,741.95 fine and a $125 special assessment. Moody Motor is a certified Ford dealership. In addition to selling new and used vehicles, Moody Motor has a vehicle service department. The company has been in operation since...
Meat processors have until Sept. 1 to apply for participation in the charitable Hunters Helping the Hungry program for 2024-2025, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The program pays participating processors to accept and process deer donated by hunters. This program serves Nebraskans in need as processors deliver ground venison to participating food banks. The application form is available at OutdoorNebraska.gov/HHH. Processors can apply to participate in any or all the Nebraska 2024-2025 deer hunting seasons. Contact Jordyn...
A 21-year-old O’Neill woman who had been given an opportunity to avoid prison, has given up that chance and will spend up to four years in prison. McKenzie A. Dow faced the Honorable Mark Kozisec in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill last Monday, July 29, to be sentenced for crimes committed in June 2022. Dow had pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2022, to Count I, theft by receiving stolen property, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, possession of a financial transaction device, a Class 4 felony; Count III, criminal possession of a fin...
Nebraskans are reminded to check the mail this week if they regularly vote early in Nebraska elections and filed a standing request with their county election commissioner to do so again. Election commissioners in Douglas, Lancaster and many other Nebraska counties recently mailed ballot request cards to people on their regular early voter lists. Douglas County has mailed out 160,000 cards. Lancaster County mailed out 64,000 of its blue postcards Friday. People can return the early voting...
Wildlife officials say conditions in certain areas of Nebraska are suitable for the spread of deadly viral diseases among big game populations. They are asking the public to report unexplained death or illnesses of deer, pronghorn, elk and bighorn sheep. Observations of unhealthy big game animals or unexplained deaths should be reported to the nearest Nebraska Game and Parks Commission office. Locations include Alliance, Bassett, Kearney, Gretna, North Platte, Lincoln, Omaha and Norfolk. In big...
Joaquin S. Echeverria, 28, of Brenham, Texas, (in custody) appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on July 31 for further arraignment on a Class 1C felony, possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver. If convicted, he faces up to 50 years of incarceration, with a five-year mandatory minimum. No good time is awarded to mandatory minimum time. He pleaded not guilty and requested jury trial. The Honorable James Kube set pretrial hearing Aug. 28 and jury trial, Oct. 21. Echeverria is represented...
Four Antelope County families were recognized, Aug. 3, during the Antelope County Fair, for longevity in the agriculture industry, with Aksarben Farm Family awards. The Whitwer family, of Tilden, receiged a Heritage Farm Award, recognizing 150 years of consecutively-held ownership of land in the same family. Three families were presented the Pioneer Farm Award, honoring 100 years of consecutive land ownership in the same family. Receiving honors were the Willats family, of Orchard; Meis family...
Ben Clifton, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Orchard in Orchard; Kelly Holthus, chairman of Cornerstone Bank, and Zac Holoch, President and CEO of Cornerstone Bank in York, Nebraska, announced today an agreement has been reached for Cornerstone Bank to purchase the Bank of Orchard. The Bank of Orchard has total assets of approximately $35 million with total deposits of $30 million and total loans of $9 million. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval with a...
One of the most successful events for Antelope County 4-H members returns, Saturday, for its 14th appearance. The annual premium auction will begin at 4 p.m. in the show arena at the fairgrounds in Neligh. The premise is simple. Individuals place bids on beef, swine, sheep, goat, poultry and rabbit entries, shown by 4-H members. The auction gives the showmen an additional moment of recognition for efforts put into projects. With the exception of a 5% fee, retained by the auction committee to be...
As introduced, Gov. Jim Pillen’s core property tax relief proposal could fall short by $139 million in annual estimated revenue needed. Pillen’s main proposal, introduced through Legislative Bill 1 in the special session, includes placing a sales tax on more than 100 currently tax-exempt goods and services. It would also raise seven “sin” taxes, on candy and soft drinks, vapes, cigarettes, keno gambling, spirits, consumable hemp and games of skill. In total, the new or increased taxes would raise an estimated $1.15 billion in the first full fis...
How many barbecue sandwiches does it take to raise funds a new ambulance? Plenty. Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department will earmark funds from this year's annual meal, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the fire hall, toward the new piece of equipment. Dine-in, carryout or drive- thru service will be available. To place an order for pickup, call 402-485-2451 between 5 and 8 p.m., that day. Donations may be taken to the barbecue or mailed to the fire department at PO Box 11 in...
Two defendants waived their rights to counsel, admitted to committing offenses and were fined by the Honorable Donna Taylor when they appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on July 17. Taylor Hasebroock, 19, of Oakdale was fined the statutory amount, $300, for possession of marijuana, $10 for possession of drug paraphernalia and $49 costs. She was cited when she was stopped May 14 by a Nebraska State Patrol officer for speeding. Cole R. Aschoff, 26, of Plainview was fined $100 for each of two counts of no proof of financial...
In a time before Prohibition, tiny Wilber, Nebraska, produced something nearby metropolis Omaha envied. Today, more than a century later, Wilber is trying to make Omaha jealous again. In its heyday, the Wilber Brewing Company produced 40,000 barrels of beer per year, and almost all of it was consumed by residents of the small town, located 40 miles southwest of Lincoln, and nearby communities. Gary Wooten, secretary of Wilber Czech Brewery Company LLC, said his organization wants to bring back t...
Lester E. Brizuela Gomez, 37, of Columbus was sentenced to 45 days in the Antelope County Jail in Neligh for a conviction of criminal attempt of domestic assault in the third degree committed in Holt County. Brizuela Gomez was ordered to appear at the Neligh jail at 5 p.m. July 30 to begin his sentence. The sentence was ordered July 15 by the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill after he found Brizuela Gomez guilty of the Class 2 misdemeanor. Holt County attorney Brent Kelly reduced the charge from third-degree d...
