The mobile food pantry, sponsored by various churches, individuals, and businesses in Antelope County, will be dispersing food on Tuesday, January 15, from 4:00-5:30 pm at the American Legion Club in Neligh.
The goal is to provide free food to those whose needs are great and resources are limited without being restricted by income guidelines. Due to liability reasons, recipients will not be allowed in the building until 3:00 pm. Please remember to bring your own boxes. The University of South Dakota announced its Academic Honors and Dean’s List to recognize more than 2,200 students for their high academic achievement during the Fall 2018 semester.
Full-time, undergraduate students are named to the Dean’s List if they received a 3.5 GPA for courses they took in the Fall 2018 semester and had no incomplete or failing grades. For part-time students, those with fewer than 12 credit hours, the recognition is called Academic Honors. Antelope County students earning honors were: Dean's List - Taylor White, Neligh Academic Honors - Christine Cook, Orchard Bob Moore took a deep breath and then nodded his head. “Jail Standards told me this is where we’d be. (Madison County Sheriff) Vern Hjorth told me we would, too. So, yeah, it wasn’t surprising how quick we were getting calls from people wanting to house inmates here,” the Antelope County sheriff said last week. “We’ve pushed maximum capacity often because we take in other inmates, and that brings in money for the county.” Sitting in his office at the county law enforcement center that opened in 2015, Moore said the facility holds up to 33 inmates and averaged 27.9 inmates per day over the course of the last year. That’s a far cry from the five inmates the previous jail held. While Moore said the law enforcement center was built primarily to comply with Jail Standards, improve safety and to upgrade 911 communications, the funds generated by housing other inmates from other counties that actually helped cover unexpected expenses that otherwise would have been paid via taxes. Among those expenses were the $39,000 insurance premium increase for full-time county employees and the $93,746.66 to Stratton, DeLay, Doele, Carlson & Buettner, who served as defense attorneys for Darryl Lierman, who was convicted last January of eight counts of sexual assault. “No taxes were spent on either of those — Lierman’s defense or the insurance increase,” Moore said. “We footed those bills, so Antelope County taxes didn’t have to. Why did we pay the insurance increase? We have low wages, and our staff works nights, weekends and holidays. We need benefits to keep employees.” Income From Jail Records show Antelope County had 195 male and 54 female inmates last year, many of which were from other counties. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger said Antelope County is one of five jails he utilizes. “I average 20 incarcerated a day,” Unger said. “Antelope County has a nice facility, and it’s well run. It’s a benefit to Northeast Nebraska, not just to Antelope County.” Unger also sends inmates to jails in Madison, Pierce, Thurston and Platte counties. He said Antelope County is his No. 1 choice for housing female inmates, which is an issue for most jails since state statute 47-111 requires 24-hour supervision of female inmates. The Jail Standards Board requires at least one female employee on duty when a female inmate is housed and at least one male employee when a male inmate is housed. Records show 288 males and 105 females were booked into the Antelope County jail in 2018. Male inmates stayed 7,919 days in the Antelope County jail while females stayed 2,312 days. Of the males, 195 stayed more than 23 days while 55 females stayed that long or longer. Moore said since all but two of his jailers are female, multiple counties in the area now utilize Antelope County to house their female inmates. Unger said that’s an example of how Moore works to help other departments. “Sheriff Moore has assisted us greatly. He absolutely bends over backwards to help the other sheriffs in the area, and we all appreciate that,” Unger said. Moore admitted it hasn’t been easy to keep qualified staff due to the low wages and difficult hours. “When I bring someone in for an interview and they find out they work weekends, nights, holidays and get a low wage, it’s a tough sell,” he said. “But having good benefits helps me get good employees.” Moore said benefits aren’t just key to his staff, they’re important to all county employees from the roads department to the courthouse. Had the sheriff’s department not paid the insurance increase, cuts may have been made. As for the Lierman costs, those likely would have been paid from the county’s general budget, which is funded by taxes. Many of the sheriff’s department expenses are actually funded by the jail — not taxes. According to the county reports, taxpayers are only paying for salaries, insurance (other than the premium increase), electricity, water and the bond payment. That means besides the insurance increase and Lierman defense, the jail fund is paying for inmate medical expenses, food, clothing and hygiene, as well as staff uniforms and vehicles. Expenses From Jail But building the jail hasn’t come without expenses. Jail Standards require staffing based upon size of the facility, not number of inmates incarcerated at that time. Whether the jail has six inmates or 30, the same number of staff is required. Personnel costs have increased 16 percent — or $92,000 — in the three full years since the facility opened. Moore said he has cut his budget in other places to lessen that burden on taxpayers. Despite the increase in staff due the Jail Standards, the annual report shows expenditures have only increased $133,741 since 2013-14 — when the department was in the smaller facility with less workers. “I watch the budget very closely. If we overspend in January, we’re trying to cut corners in February to try to bring it back down,” Moore said. How has Moore cut expenses? Looking at the 2013-14 budget compared to 2017-18, supplies and materials went down nearly 40 percent and capital outlay expenses decreased nearly 75 percent. Moore said he can’t predict if the county will have major medical expenses or court cases that lead to above-average defense costs from court-appointed attorneys. But if that happens, Moore said he hopes the income from housing other inmates can cover those costs. “This jail wasn’t built to make money. It was built because Antelope County recognized the need for improvements in safety and 911 communication,” Moore said. “But we have the ability to bring in some income by housing other inmates, and we are doing that and using those funds to keep other taxes down as much as possible. We are trying to be good stewards.” While the watertower won’t be painted “John Deere Green,” it will likely be a hot summer night when “Pickup Man” Joe Diffie headlines the Antelope County Fair in August.
Fair officials announced Diffie as their 2019 headliner on Wednesday morning. He is slated to perform in front of the grandstands on Friday, Aug. 2. Tickets have not gone on sale yet for the concert. “I’ve always loved well-written songs,” says the Grammy winner from Oklahoma. “There’s really no magic formula. I’ve just always drawn on my own experience whether it’s falling in love or hanging out in a bar. I feel like if I relate to it, other people will, too.” Diffie has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years. He signed with Epic Records in 1990 and saw his debut single, “Home,” reach No. 1. He continued to dominate the charts throughout the 1990s with such hits as “New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame),” “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Is It Cold in Here,” “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die),” “So Help Me Girl,” “Bigger than the Beatles” and “Third Rock from the Sun.” County star Jason Aldean paid tribute to Diffie and name-checked many of the veteran entertainer’s classics in his hit “1994.” The video featured Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and others paying homage to the man who influenced them. “It was a nice shot in the arm, and it’s amazing to me the impact that it’s had. A lot of fans are coming to my shows now to see who the dude is that Jason and Thomas are talking about,” Diffie said, noting that Thomas Rhett co-wrote the song and often plays it in his shows. “The really amazing thing is the fans know every song that I sing. We’ll go to a place and they’ll be a bunch of younger people and they’ll know every single word. Obviously, they’ve gone back and done some research or downloaded something. It’s pretty cool.” With nearly 30 years in the spotlight, Diffie said he has no plans to slow down. “I love music. It’s just a part of me,” he says. “Retiring would be like cutting off my arm or something. I enjoy everything about it. The travel part gets old once in a while admittedly, but I love the fans. It beats working any day.” The University of Nebraska at Kearney announced students who earned a place on the dean’s list for the fall 2018 semester.
Students who are on the dean’s list must have completed 12 credit hours or more of classes with a 3.5 grade point average or better on a 4.0 scale. Students earn a 4.0 for an “A,” 3.0 for a “B” and a 2.0 for a “C.” Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis – such as internships and student teaching – aren’t included among the necessary 12 credits. Those listing Antelope County addresses as their hometowns were: Elgin - Lydia Behnk Elgin - Whitney Walker Moore Neligh - Rachel Higgins Orchard - Noemi Liscano Click here for the full listing. If the final front page of the year is any indication, Nate Metschke made a huge impact on 2018.
Though his death Monday takes the top spot on the biggest stories of the year, it’s how Neligh-Oakdale’s band teacher lived that shows the real impact, from the high school choir performing with Foreigner, — which ranked eight on the Top Stories of 2018 list — to senior Cade Wilkinson earning an invitation to the elite Young Americans College of the Performing Arts. Metschke’s death sent the area into an immediate tailspin of disbelief as it overpowered social media with stories detailing his influence as a teacher and friend. Although it occurred after the voting deadline, the ACN staff move it to the top of the list as having the biggest impact on the year as it will carry a longterm impact and be felt for years to come. 2. IMMIGRATION RAID Eleven locations in Nebraska, including one in Antelope County, was part of a 15-month investigation by the Department of Homeland Security. According to a press release by Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) served a series of criminal arrest warrants for 17 individuals connected to an alleged criminal conspiracy to exploit illegal alien laborers for profit, fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in Nebraska and and Minnesota. In August, Nebraska State Patrol blocked the entrance to the Long Pine Hog Confinement located one mile east and two miles south of Royal as the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) team worked the scene inside the fenced area of the confinement. 3. SYDNEY LOOFE MURDER SUSPECTS CHARGED In June, Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell were charged in the death of Sydney Loofe, formerly of Neligh, who was found dead last December. They face the charges of murder in the first degree, a class 1 or class 1A felony, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison (Class 1) or the death penalty (Class 1A); and improper disposal of human skeletal remains, a class IV felony, which carries up to 2 years in prison and a fine. 4. DARRYL LIERMAN TRIAL Darryl Lierman, 51, was sentenced in March to a total of 70 years in prison, with a minimum of 57 1/2 years, less 272 days, before he is eligible for parole. On January 17, a 12-member jury, made up of 8 women and 4 men, found him guilty of three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child and three counts of child abuse. The jury took less than 4 hours to deliberate and unanimously found Lierman guilty on all counts. During the trial, Lierman denied the allegations against him and had previously entered not guilty pleas to all eight counts. The prosecution called 13 witnesses to the stand during the court proceedings, including two victims who testified that Lierman sexually assaulted them as young as 10 or 11 years old. 5. NEW MOON THEATER SELLS The New Moon Community Theater group has signed on the dotted line and completed its purchase of Neligh’s New Moon Theater on Wednesday afternoon. It was previously owned by Stacy Klabenes. “We just signed at 2:30 p.m. today,” said Melanie Miller, a member of the non-profit group, on Dec. 19. This local group of individuals is committed to the acquisition, restoration and operation of the historic landmark theater on Main Street in Neligh. Their mission is “to enrich, educate and entertain our community by providing a range of arts and theater experiences in a beloved historic landmark.” 6. NELIGH CARE & REHAB In March, the Department of Health and Human Services was alerted that Cottonwood Healthcare, the company that owns the Neligh Care & Rehabilitation Center and 20 others, would be unable to pay its employees. Court documents were filed to place it into receivership. Klaasmeyer & Associates took over March 23 as managers from the New Jersey-based Cottonwood Healthcare L.L.C. also known as Skyline. They are now overseeing the facilities and communicating with DHHS on a daily basis. The City of Neligh is considering either buying the nursing home or building a new center and is working on a feasibility study for more data before making a decision. 7. NEW AMH CLINIC The new Neligh AMH Family Practice Clinic is opened in February. The clinic’s new entrance is located on the east side of the AMH facility, just north of the hospital’s main entrance. The new clinic has nine rooms for patient clinic visits, one procedure room and additional work space for the providers and staff. It is designed to maximize the flow of patients in-coming and out-going. It better accommodates and enhances the services and health care excellence provided by our medical staff. 8. NELIGH-OAKDALE CHOIR PERFORMS WITH FOREIGNER The Neligh-Oakdale choir was offered the experience of a lifetime—the chance to sing in concert with internationally acclaimed band, Foreigner. Twelve Neligh-Oakdale choir members, nine current and three recent graduates, made up the small ensemble who sang as special guests of Foreigner at the Divots DeVent Center concert in Norfolk in September. The choir is under the direction of Jamie Sehi, who is in her fifth year teaching, but first year at Neligh-Oakdale. 9. L-Bar-B old After more than 35 years of turning the steakhouse into Clearwater’s landmark restaurant, Francis and Rilla Hanzlik called it a career in November. The Hanzliks sold the L-Bar-B to Jim Swails, a Ewing-native. Swails said the L-Bar-B name, menu, hours and phone number will remain the same. All of the staff were offered the option to stay as well. 10. ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE MOVED A Clearwater schoolhouse was moved to Neligh in February and will be renovated to look as close as possible to its original look. Inside, the building will be set up like it would have been when in use, with additional exhibits showcasing the history of schools like it in Antelope County and Nebraska. The exhibit will be open to the public, and visitors will be able to tour it during regular business hours.
A Neligh man was sentenced for beating his brother with a shovel after claiming his brother repeatedly poked him with a pitchfork first.
Doug Carpenter, 42, of Neligh, appeared for sentencing Wednesday in Antelope County District Court on one count of 3rd degree assault, a class I misdemeanor, after admittedly striking his brother Brian with a scoop shovel during a heated argument in the shop at their farm. Carpenter’s attorney Ron Temple said his client was provoked. “(The brother) comes into the shop and needles my client and tries to get him to blow up,” Temple said. After Carpenter threw some bolts and other small objects, he said his brother grabbed a pitchfork and started poking him. “And there’s evidence in the record that he has marks on his arm, marks other places on his body, and quite unfortunately, Doug grabs a scoop shovel and whacks him upside the noggin,” Temple said. “At some point, you reach your breaking point and you’re unable to think rationally and not behaving the way you would normally behave. So we find ourself in this situation.” Temple requested that the court simply sentence his client to time served, which was 35 days in jail. Pursuant to the plea agreement in which the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler said he agreed to request a short jail sentence. Judge James Kube said he is concerned that Carpenter has “some pretty substantial anger issues.” “This is a situation, obviously, where a fight broke out between you and your brother and it wasn’t just fisticuffs, but he grabbed a pitchfork and you grabbed a shovel,” the judge said. “I can’t even imagine really doing that.” Carpenter was given the opportunity to speak on his own behalf. “I’m sorry for what I done to my brother,” he said. “But, as you recall from my attorney, he kept nitpicking at me all the time. I don’t know about you, but that would frustrate me. That’s the reason why this all happened. I’m still sorry for the outcome. I didn’t want it to get this far. I loved my brother to death and still do, even though he’s not truthful in a lot of cases.” Again referencing his anger issues, Judge Kube said he felt Carpenter could benefit from some of the programs offered through probation and ordered him to serve 12 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $147 in court costs, pay $140.43 in restitution to his brother, pay enrollment and programming fees and serve 90 days in jail at the conclusion of his probation sentence, unless some or all of it is waived by a judge. Two Elkhorn Valley elementary teachers earned their master's degrees from Doane University at the December commencement ceremony on Sunday.
Among those recognized as graduates from the College of Professional Studies and College of Education at Doane were first grade teacher Megan Eggers of Tilden and kindergarten teacher Marla Smith of Neligh. Both received their Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Approximately 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees were awarded during the university's commencement celebration held inside the George & Sally Haddix Recreation Center on the Crete campus. Graduate students from the College of Education in the following programs were recognized: Doctorate of Education, Education Specialist, and Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction. In the College of Professional Studies, graduate students from the Master of Arts in Management, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Arts in Counseling programs were recognized. Undergraduate students in the College of Professional Studies were honored as well. Sunday marked the first group of graduates to complete Doane's Master of Business Administration program, which was launched in the spring of 2017. Sunday also marked the 25th anniversary of graduates in the Master of Arts in Management (MAM) program. Thirty-three students graduated with their MAM degree on Sunday. One of the 33 students was Jessica Shultis, who is currently serving as Miss Nebraska. Shultis placed in the top 10 in the Miss America pageant in September. Dr. Kristi Gibbs, Head of School at Brownell Talbot, served as the commencement speaker with her address titled, "Lessons Learned as a Non-Traditional Student." Sunday's commencement ceremony honored students who graduated in August as well. In total, 304 students that finished their program in August, October, or December were recognized. All of the Antelope County schools are planning to host holiday concerts soon.
Here is the list of concerts for each school: Neligh-Oakdale - PK-12 grade concert - Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Elgin Public - elementary concert - Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and high school - Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Orchard - K-12 concert - Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. St. Boniface and Pope John - Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Elkhorn Valley - elementary concert - Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Clearwater - K-12 concert - Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 pm. The K-6 will be performing "It's Christmas, Carol!" by John Jacobson and Roger Emerson. The evening will continue with the 5-12 portion of the concert, featuring elementary, junior high, and high school choirs, elementary band, and 7-12 band. |
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