Antelope County will soon have two new deputies, including a very familiar face. Sheriff Bob Moore announced the hiring of Shelby Keetle and Hank Hartl as new deputies with the county. Keetle, who has an associate’s degree in law enforcement, is a 2016 graduate of Neligh-Oakdale and has worked for the county for several years as a jailer. Moore said she will begin as a deputy on February 1. Hartl currently is employed by the City of Stanton. He will join the Antelope County Sheriff’s Department on March 1. With the hires, Antelope County is again at full force with Keetle and Hartl joining Chief Deputy Dan Hallock and Sergeant John Shaver. The county recently lost Darin Ternus, who was hired by the City of Neligh Police Department, and Doug Hartman, who is now a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department. Northeast Community College in Norfolk has released the President's Honor List and Deans' List for both full and part-time students for the Fall 2018 semester.
To be named to the President’s Honor List, students must earn a perfect grade point average of 4.0 and be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Some 210 students made the President’s Full-time Honor List this fall semester. Students named to the Deans’ Honor List must have earned a grade point average of 3.75 or above and be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Two hundred fifty-nine students were named to the Deans’ Honor List. Another 237 students named to the President’s Part-Time list attained a 4.0 grade point average while taking at least six credit hours, and 86 students named to the Deans’ Part-Time list earned a grade point average of 3.75 or above while taking at least six credit hours. Northeast serves residents in 20 counties in Northeast Nebraska. Check out the honorees listing Antelope County addresses as their hometown: PRESIDENT’S HONOR LIST - Full-Time, Fall 2018 Following is a list of students, and their respective hometowns, named to the President’s Honor List for full-time students for the Fall 2018 Semester at Northeast Community College. These students earned a 4.0 grade point for at least 12 hours. Clearwater - Andrew Steskal, Cassidy Steskal Elgin - Jordan Mescher Neligh - Christopher Bentley Orchard – Kimberly Dickerson Tilden – Mark O’Brien DEANS’ HONOR LIST-Full-time, Fall 2018 The following is a list of students, and their respective hometowns, named to the Deans’ Honor List for full-time students for the Fall 2018 semester at Northeast Community College. These students attained a grade point average of 3.75 for the semester while being enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Elgin - Zoey Bergman, Allison Koenig Neligh - Luke Jacobsen, Kinsley Klabenes, Grant Knutson, Hallie Knutson Tilden - Kirstyn Bals, Shelby Cakebread, Ranee Keehn PRESIDENT’S HONOR LIST—Part-time, Fall 2018 The following is a list of students, and their respective hometowns, named to the President’s Honor List for part-time students for the Fall 2018 semester at Northeast Community College. These students attained a perfect grade point average of 4.0 for the semester while being enrolled for at least six credit hours. Clearwater - Katie Stearns, Julia Thiele Elgin - Katelyn Copeland, Tera Henkenius, Laura Ruge Neligh - Jennifer Pellatz, Tia Smith, Toby Svatos Royal - Clay Curtis Tilden - Karissa Bals, Cherokee Berrier, Tanya Sharples DEAN’S HONOR LIST Part-Time, Fall 2018 The following students, with their respective hometowns, were named to the Deans’ Honor List for part-time students for the Fall 2018 semester. These students attained a grade point average of 3.75 for the semester while being enrolled for at least 6 credit hours. Orchard - Nalleli Zermeno Three FFA chapters in Antelope County competed at the District X Leadership Development Events (LDE) contest on Wednesday.
As reported by the Nebraska State FFA Association, District X had the largest LDE contest out of all twelve districts in the state by over 100 competitors. FFA members from Neligh-Oakdale, Elgin and Elkhorn Valley competed in various public speaking, demonstration and interview events. For Neligh-Oakdale, all but one member experienced the event for the first time. This was the first year for the Elkhorn Valley FFA Chapter. FFA members spent several hours preparing and practicing for the event. "Getting up and giving a speech in front of a crowd is not easy, and I am proud of how all students represented our chapter," said Neligh-Oakdale FFA Advisor Kali Bohling. Below is a full list of results from the contest: Neligh-Oakdale Alyssa See, Creed Speaking, Blue Ribbon Ashton Higgins, Creed Speaking, Red Ribbon Josey Booth, Jr. Public Speaking, Purple Ribbon Grace Shabram, Jr. Public Speaking, Red Ribbon Cade Wilkinson, Sr. Public Speaking, Red Ribbon Mackenzie Rudolf, Cooperative Speaking, Red Ribbon Hannah Schrader, Natural Resources Speaking, Blue Ribbon Shelby Pitzer, Natural Resources Speaking, Red Ribbon Cole Belitz, Employment Skills, Purple Ribbon Jackson Keetle and Cameron Wiseman, Ag Demonstration, Red Ribbon Josey Booth, Lesly Luna-Duran and Sydney Olson, Ag Demonstration, Red Ribbon Elgin Colton Wright, Creed Speaking, Blue Ribbon Norman Grothe, Creed Speaking, Red Ribbon Allyson Selting, Jr. Public Speaking, Purple Ribbon Kira Widger, Sr. Public Speaking, Purple Ribbon, Alternate to State Araceli Palmer, Sr. Public Speaking, Blue Ribbon Adam Dreger, Cooperative Speaking, Purple Ribbon, Alternate to State Breanna Carr, Cooperative Speaking, Blue Ribbon Olivia Lindgren, Natural Resources Speaking, Purple Ribbon, Alternate to State Talena Woodard, Natural Resources Speaking, Red Ribbon Allyson Wemhoff, Employment Skills, Purple Ribbon Hunter Reestman, Employment Skills, Blue Ribbon Elkhorn Valley Conner Larson, Creed Speaking, Purple Ribbon Reed Bennett, Creed Speaking, Red Ribbon Alexis Larsen, Creed Speaking, White Ribbon Ben Wilcox, Jr. Public Speaking, Purple Ribbon Jacob Cleveland, Jr. Public Speaking, Red Ribbon Erica Brown, Jr. Public Speaking, Red Ribbon Damien Knight, Natural Resources Speaking, White Ribbon Trevin Hanson, Natural Resources Speaking, White Ribbon Josiah Wriedt, Extemporaneous Speaking, Blue Ribbon Brianna Maughan, Extemporaneous Speaking, Red Ribbon Sadie Smutny, Employment Skills, Blue Ribbon Jace Thompson, Employment Skills, Blue Ribbon Ag Demonstration Team #2, Blue Ribbon Ag Demonstration Team #1, White Ribbon Parliamentary Procedure Team, Red Ribbon The next events for the FFA chapters are FFA Week February 18-22 and District Career Development Events February 27. With the January 30 meeting approaching to release results from feasibility studies for Orchard, Clearwater, Verdigre and Ewing, stakeholders are being encouraged to not only attend the meeting, but also to speak at it.
“I hope we have good attendance and people are not afraid to stand up and voice their opinion, even if their neighbor has a differing opinion,” said board member Terri Hergert during Monday’s monthly Unified District board meeting. “We need to know from a majority of our people, not just a handful.” The joint meeting will be January 30 in Orchard at 6:30 p.m. between Orchard, Clearwater, Verdigre and Ewing as they learn the results of various feasibility studies on reorganizing, possibly through consolidation or unification. Superintendent Dale Martin said all four boards will be seated in the middle of the gym with microphones to improve sound to the audience. He said there will be public comment at the meeting, which is expected to last several hours. The Unified District board has given its schools — Orchard, Clearwater and Verdigre — a March deadline to decide whether or not they want to extend unification past 2020. “I think that’s a good idea to get some public input and find out where things stand,” Martin said. “And that will help lead direction to where things go. Nothing has changed with that March deadline. That’s where we’re at.” Orchard board members said they will host a community meeting on Feb. 20 with plans to gather input from the public. Marty Kerkman said Clearwater plans to have an original board meeting in early February and then possibly a community meeting. Peggy Liska said Verdigre will likely do the same after gathering information on the studies. The Antelope County News will live stream the meeting for those unable to attend. After a call to the auditor and a heated discussion last Tuesday, several commissioners acknowledged that a recent auditor’s report didn’t reveal the whole truth.
“I’m just a little upset about the information I received from the auditor,” newly-elected vice chairman Dean Smith said when more details came to light during the nearly 7-hour meeting. Newly-elected chairman Tom Borer and commissioners Allan Bentley, Eli Jacob and Charlie Henery were also present. The findings of a recent auditor’s report came under fire after it alleged deficiencies in the sheriff’s department and county attorney’s office, including uncollected funds and the failure to foreclose on delinquent properties. At the commissioner’s meeting last week, it was revealed that the majority of those deficiencies had been remedied—many of them the same day as the audit—or the official was not actually at fault. “My bookkeeper began corrections that very day,” Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore said. The sheriff said the only problem they still had trouble fixing was their accounts receivable that dated back to 2010; so he called Deann Haeffner, Nebraska assistant deputy auditor, for possible solutions. “She gave us a plan on how to attack it,” he said. “Why did we have that since 2010? Guess who wasn’t the sheriff in 2010? It was Darrell Hamilton. I’m cleaning up stuff, we’re sending bills out and people aren’t paying them . . .Deann told us, ‘Bob just resolve it. Put all those claims before the board, have them dismiss them and terminate that.’ ” The auditor’s report also claimed that Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler failed to foreclose on delinquent properties after he was instructed to do so by the board. During the discussion, Henery told the commissioners that the former board members had made that decision, but later changed their minds. He said after they found out it would cost the taxpayers more money to foreclose, they told Abler not to take action; however, there was no motion made to that effect. “Some of these properties that are on this list, to be honest with you, are real liabilities,” Abler said. “Asbestos and everything else. It’s a legal thing that if you foreclose on something, the county sells it, but in between, the county owns it.” On past foreclosures, he said “it cost the county more to foreclose, advertise and sell than the taxes that were owed on that parcel,” so the county board decided to offer payment plan options to the property owners instead of foreclosing them. Since studying the state statute more closely, Abler said has he “no choice,” he is mandated by law to foreclose on properties which are delinquent for more than three years. “I spent two hours this morning with private legal counsel before I came to this meeting,” Smith said about Abler’s failure to foreclose on properties. “I have got documents from NACO, Elaine Munsel, telling us how to proceed with this because it is plain and simple, it says removal from office. Private legal counsel from this morning told me it means recall. So here we are, I thought the county attorney was negligent in what he done...Now it looks to me, it’s not his fault.” Antelope County Clerk Lisa Payne said the new commissioners should spend more time communicating with their fellow county officials and less time pointing fingers. “Honestly I feel like all of us previous employees that had been here, prior to you guys taking this board today, are on trial,” Payne said. “I honestly feel it. I feel like we’re on trial, and I don’t feel it’s fair.” Smith said all of his frustration now lies with the previous board and the auditor. “There is no one, in my mind, on trial,” he said. “We’ve been here, for what, three hours?” Payne said. “And it’s been about ‘Why was this done wrong? Why was that done wrong? How come this is happening? That was dumb. How come you didn’t do this?’ ” She said the county officials “have the best interest of the county” in everything they do. Antelope County Assessor Kelly Mueller said if the new commissioners had questions, they should “go directly to the source and not just jump to conclusions.” “And you wonder why everybody is feeling this way?” Mueller asked. Antelope County Treasurer Deb Branstiter said all they need to do is have Abler foreclose on the eight delinquent properties and “quit arguing about it and just move forward.” “Let’s do what’s right for our county, not our special interest groups and not individuals,” Henery said. “Let’s, as a board, sit up here and do what is right for Antelope County and let’s get along.” Borer said “put yourself in my shoes,” as a new commissioner, he only had the audit report to go off of. “Tom, I was in your shoes,” Henery said. “I was a new board member. I didn’t call lawyers and stuff before I come in here and try to make everything foul. I come in and I tried to learn what was going on and tried to understand this before I went forward.” Mueller asked the new commissioners why they didn’t just talk to those involved. “We’re all officials here, just like you’re an official now,” she said. “I was trying to figure out how to bring this up to Bob,” Bentley said. “Should I go to Bob, should I go to Joe, should we try to do this in executive session? As was stated to me by the lawyer, she stated we have no right to do this in any kind of executive session, it has to be done in a public forum because this was all public information.” Mueller said if they were trying to find out as much information as possible, they should have asked the questions directly. “Why wouldn’t you go to Bob and ask some questions before the meeting?” she asked. “That would be normal behavior, to go to the person. I think you’re wondering where everybody is getting these ideas that they feel they’re on trial, but you’re not coming directly to the person, just talking to them and asking these questions. That would’ve saved a lot of this. So if you’re wondering why Lisa feels like everyone is on trial, it’s because you’re coming out with these accusations before the meeting.” Abler said he would move forward with the foreclosures, per state statute. The Nebraska Unified District #1 recently received results on AQuESTT, which stands for Accountability for a Quality Education System Today & Tomorrow.
AQuESTT allows schools to focus on educational equity for their students, ensuring all students across backgrounds and circumstances have access and opportunities for success. AQuESTT annually classifies schools and districts as excellent, great, good, or needs improvement. A breakdown of statewide preliminary classification indicated that 141 or 12.70 percent of schools were classified excellent, 427 or 38.47 percent were great, 386 or 34.77 percent were good, and 156 or 14.05 percent were designated as in need of improvement. NE Unified #1 is classified as “Great” overall. The state further classifies each school into separate grade level designations. Classifications for these are Clearwater Elementary- Great, Clearwater Middle School- Great, Clearwater High School- Great, Orchard Elementary- Great, Orchard Middle School- Good, Orchard High School- Excellent, Verdigre Elementary- Excellent, Verdigre Middle School- Excellent, and Verdigre High School- Great. Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) results were also recently released. NSCAS English Language Arts (ELA) and NSCAS Mathematics, rigorous assessments with high expectations for college and career readiness, were given in grades three through eight, and the NSCAS Science assessment was given in grades five and eight. Nebraska students continue to show growth and improvement across grade levels. Statewide, more than half of students are meeting or exceeding expectations in math, ELA, and science. The NSCAS ACT is given to all Nebraska juniors statewide and 50 percent or more are on track or meeting ACT benchmarks. Our district had the following results. In grades 3-8 on the NSCAS English Language Arts (ELA) and Math assessments we scored above the state average. In ELA our district had 52% proficiency as compared to the state average of 51%. In Math our students scored at 64% proficiency as compared to the state average of 51%. On the grades 5-8 NSCAS Science assessments our district had a 79% proficiency as compared to the state average of 68%. The 11th graders took the NSCAS ACT as their state assessment. In ELA they scored at 76% proficiency. In Math they were at 68% proficiency, and in Science they were at 62% proficiency. State averages for 11th grade were ELA-50%, Math-50%, and Science-54%. The results of classification and assessment data can be found on the Nebraska Education Profile (NEP). School and district snapshots provide a quick look at accountability performance while full data profiles provide deeper information and include all Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)-required components. Comparisons can also be made of schools and districts to similar peers in the state. Detailed information on the AQuESTT system is available at aquestt.com. The AQuESTT report on the classification of schools and districts and assessment results are available at: nep.education.ne.gov. An Elgin man facing multiple charges after a 2018 Antelope County Fair incident pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors Wednesday.
Chad Bode, 20, of Elgin, along with his attorney Ron Temple, appeared for an agreement on an amended complaint in Antelope County Court. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Bode pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a class I misdemeanor; obstructing a police officer, a class I misdemeanor; and possession of alcohol, a class III misdemeanor. The felony charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. When Judge Donna Farrell Taylor asked if it was true that he had possessed or consumed alcoholic beverages on Aug. 3, 2018, Bode replied, "Yes, your honor." When asked what he did to obstruct Officer Darin Ternus on that same date, he answered, "I left after he saw me, and I ran from my vehicle." Bode confirmed that he had used a motor vehicle to flee from the scene to avoid a minor in possession charge. His sentencing has been set for March 6 at 11:30 a.m. The judge ordered a presentence investigation be conducted by the probation office prior to sentencing. Operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and obstructing a police officer charges each carry up to a $1,000 fine, one year in jail or both and the MIP carries up to a $500 fine, 90 days in jail or both. The charges stem from an incident in which deputies attempted to stop and detain Bode and his vehicle after it struck a deputy performing traffic control following the Antelope County Fair concert in Neligh's Riverside Park, according to a press release from the Antelope County Attorney's Office. The deputy was not seriously injured. According to Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler, Bode, then 19, was taken into custody by the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 4 in connection with a short pursuit on Aug. 3 that began near Riverside Park and ended in a pasture south of Neligh. Deputies were investigating Bode and his passengers for possible drunk driving and other alcohol related offenses when Bode and his passengers fled from authorities at the scene. The vehicle entered a field near Highway 14 and 846th Road and became stuck in mud. Officials said Bode and five passengers all continued to flee from authorities on foot after Bode’s vehicle became stuck. NORFOLK, NEB. - A donation shortfall over the winter holidays is prompting the American Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood donors to give now to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care. The Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During this period, about 1,350 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs as busy holiday schedules kept many donors away. “Many people may not realize that blood products are perishable, and the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “When donations decline – as they did around the holidays and may further decline if severe winter weather and flu season pick up – lifesaving medical treatments could be delayed.” Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types on hand, well below the ideal five-day supply needed to respond to emergencies and daily hospital needs. Blood products are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. “We hope people can resolve to save lives now – when there is an emergency need – as well as throughout the year,” added Numark. All eligible donors, especially blood donors with type O blood, are urged to make an appointment to give in the coming days to help restock the shelves for hospital patients. Eligible donors can find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter. Winter weather poses risk to blood supply With several weeks of winter ahead, severe winter weather poses an additional threat to an already low blood supply. Snow, ice and extreme temperatures last January and February forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing about 23,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. In December, winter weather resulted in nearly twice the number of uncollected blood and platelet donations as December 2017. Who blood donations help In May 2018, 4-year-old Branson Gibby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of childhood cancer that affects certain types of nerve tissue after complaining of pain in his arms and legs and running a fever. After many tests, his mother, Erica Austin, was given the news that no mother ever wants to hear: her son had cancer. Branson’s 18-month treatment plan includes many rounds of grueling chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor near his kidney and spinal cord, stem cell transplants, and possibly radiation. He has already endured several lengthy hospital stays and began receiving the first of his stem cell transplants this fall. Since his diagnosis, Branson has received 12 blood and 11 platelet transfusions. Of the transfusions, Austin said, “They have been so important to keep him as healthy, active and battle-ready, as possible. This is the hardest thing our family has ever faced. However, there is hope in the generosity of strangers who are helping to heal my brave boy. Blood and platelet donations truly are the gift of life.” Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Antelope County: Neligh 2/4/2019: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 115 W. Third St. Clearwater 2/13/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Legion Club, 145 Main Street Northeast Community College and the City of Norfolk will host an event this month to celebrate the legacy and activism of the late civil rights leader, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hawks United, Northeast's diversity and inclusion student group, is partnering with Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning's Diversity Council to present the inaugural “MLK Day Breakfast." The event, which is open to the public, will be held on Monday, January 21, at 7 a.m., in the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk. Doors will open at 6:30 a.m., with breakfast served beginning at 7 a.m. Seating is limited and RSVP’s are required. Meanwhile, the winner of an essay contest based on one of Dr. King’s famous quotes has been announced. Hawks United partnered with the Northeast Foundation Office to provide all high school seniors in Madison, Pierce and Stanton counties an opportunity to write and submit an essay on the meaning of the quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The winner of the contest is Damien Knight of Elkhorn Valley Schools in Tilden. Knight has received a $500 scholarship to Northeast. He said he plans to attend the College next fall, where he will major in welding. He will be recognized at the MLK breakfast. Hawks United Co-Chairs Donna Neeman, director of Northeast’s TRIO program, and Billy Coby, residence life coordinator at Northeast, urge everyone to attend the breakfast. Neeman said the theme of this year’s breakfast is “Intentionally Inclusive.” “I think this ties perfectly into Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message of having a sense of ownership in the way you treat others, and ultimately creating an inclusive environment from which everyone can benefit. Having the breakfast to honor him at Northeast is a great way to get the students directly involved with being intentionally inclusive.” RSVP’s may be sent to Candace Schmidt at the City of Norfolk at [email protected] or (402) 844-2264. For additional information on the event, contact Neeman at (402) 844-7736 or Coby at (402) 844-7146. The following students have been named to the dean's list for academic excellence after the fall 2018 semester at South Dakota State University. To earn dean's list distinctions in SDSU's colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Students from 36 states and 30 foreign nations are on the list. Those from Antelope County were: Jayda Rose Zemlicka, Neligh Kelsey Koehler Welding, Elgin Tristen M. Sanne, Clearwater |
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