On May 8th and 9th the Northeast Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council will be hosting six shredding events for sensitive documents. These are being held to assist citizens in disposing of confidential files safely, reducing the potential for identity theft, and to support recycling.
Locations and host sites for these shredding events are: Thursday, May 8
Public Library, Orchard, 8 – 10 a.m.
Midwest Bank, Creighton, 10:45 a.m. – 12: 45 p.m.
Midwest Bank, Plainview, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 9
Lewis & Clark NRD office in Hartington, 8 – 10 a.m.
Ponca Co-op, 11a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wayne County Courthouse, north parking lot, 2-4 p.m.
Security Shredding of Laurel will be the contractor. On-site their truck will pulverizer all material and then take it back to their facility where it will be baled and shipped directly to a paper mill for recycling. This small business has been serving the needs of the area since 2003. Security Shredding guarantees that confidential information stays that way.
The types of material appropriate to shred include Financial Records, Maps and Blueprints, Payroll Records, Personnel Files, Inventory Lists, Legal Documents, Confidential Correspondence, Cancelled Checks, Customer Lists, Account/Records/Ledgers, Fax Records, Information on Competitors, Invoices, Computer Printouts, Price Lists, and Medical Records. Newspapers, cardboard and magazines are not accepted. These events are for sensitive documents only.
There will be a suggested donation for shredding depending on the amount of material brought in. For more information about this effort or any of the RC&D’s programs and services please contact the office at 402-582-4866 or email northeastrcd@plvwtelco.net.
The Central Nebraska Economic Development District is proud to present our 2013 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for public viewing and comment. Please click on the following link on our website to access the CEDS report.
You might wonder what the purpose of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is. A comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen regional economies. The CEDS analyzes the regional economy and serves as a guide for establishing regional goals and objectives, developing and implementing a regional plan of action, and identifying investment priorities and funding sources. Integrated economic development planning provides the flexibility to adapt to global economic conditions and fully utilize the region’s unique advantages to maximize economic opportunity for its residents by attracting the private investment that creates jobs for the region’s residents.
The Central Nebraska Economic Development District will accept public comments through May 25, 2014. Public comment regarding the CEDS report can be directed to Judy Petersen, CNEDD Executive Director at Phone: 402-340-0106, or email: judy.petersen@cnedd.org
The Central Nebraska Economic Development District serves fourteen (14) counties in Central Nebraska, including: Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Holt, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, Sherman, Valley and Wheeler, plus an additional three (3) counties for housing, including: Hamilton, Howard and Merrick
(LINCOLN, NE) The Nebraska State College System (NSCS) recently awarded over 100 Board of Trustee Scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Nebraska. A Board of Trustee (BOT) Scholarship provides full tuition for recipients and is worth nearly $17,000 over four years.
The Board of Trustees Scholarship recipients are Nebraska residents who have earned a score of 25 or higher on the ACT or a score of 1700 on the SAT college entrance exams. The recipients also provide written recommendation letters from high school teachers or administrators.
In recognition of the achievement of the scholarship recipients, the NSCS invited the students and their families to attend the annual Scholarship Luncheon in Lincoln on April 11. The presidents of the three colleges introduced the students and their families in attendance.
The O'Neill Fire Department was called to a large fire 16 miles north of O'Neill on Friday. Upon arrival around 3:15 p.m., firefighters found trees and a stack yard on fire. Mutual aid was provided by Spencer, Lynch and Bristow fire departments. At one time 40 fire personnel were on scene. Fire departments were on scene until 5:30 Saturday morning.
Paula Havranek has been promoted to market president of Pinnacle Bank in O’Neill. In her new role, she will implement the bank’s business plan by directing the financial policies and practices of the bank, as well as oversee the commercial loan portfolio and manage financial objectives to ensure institutional growth.
Havranek has been with Pinnacle Bank for 32 years, most recently serving as the Executive Vice President in the O’Neill branch. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wayne State College in 1982, and a degree from the Agricultural Lending School in 2008.
Havranek is active in her community, currently serving as chairperson on the O’Neill Community Foundation Fund, and as a member of the St. Patrick’s Church music ministry and Court St. Michael Catholic Daughters. Together with her husband, she has four grown children and four grandchildren.
About Pinnacle Bancorp:
Family-owned since 1938, Nebraska-based Pinnacle Bancorp is a $7.5 billion bank holding company with 129 locations in eight states, including 58 in Nebraska. For more information, visit pinnbank.com.
This week is National Administrative Assistants' week, with Wednesday being the national day to thank those who run the administrative side of businesses. Throughout this week, KBRX will announce daily prize winners to honor the area administrative assistants.
Over 500 kids from a wide area hunted for over 5,000 Easter Eggs and prizes at the annual Great Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by O’Neill Assembly of God. Winners of age category grand prizes were Aiden Keil, Yaritva Pena, Makenna Mitchell and Brian Price. Winners of the baskets were Brody Spencer, Aish-lynne Ebsen, Alex Desive and Evan Sayers. O’Neill Assembly of God thanks the O’Neill Family Preservation Team for their generous donation to assist with this event and thank you to all who attended!
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is giving federal agencies more time to review the Keystone XL pipeline before deciding whether to issue a permit. That could push a decision about the controversial oil pipeline until after the midterm elections in November.
The State Department is citing a recent decision by a Nebraska judge that overturned a state law that allowed the pipeline's path through the state. The State Department says that created uncertainty and ongoing litigation. The government is not saying how much longer the review will take. But it says the process isn't starting over.
The pipeline has become a politically fraught issue. Republicans criticize President Barack Obama for taking too long to decide. The State Department has jurisdiction because the pipeline would cross the border between the U.S. and Canada.
The Chambers High School Alumni Banquet "Chambers: Then and Now" will be Saturday, May 24th at 6:00 PM at the Chambers High School Gymnasium. Meal choices are Roast Beef or Chicken Fried Chicken and prices are $18 per person before May 1st and $20 per person after May 1st. Please contact Lisa Green at 402-482-5256 or email chambershighalumni@gmail.com with your reservations or questions. Be sure to include the name of the alumnus and class year. All past students are welcome to attend whether they graduated from Chambers or only attended for a portion of their education. Past and present teachers are welcome as well.
Weather permitting, construction work is scheduled to begin the week of April 28 on N-7, beginning at Bassett and extending north for 6 miles, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads.
Knife River Midwest of Sioux City, Iowa, has the $1.9 million contract for milling and replacing the asphalt roadway and shoulders. Work includes building ADA ramps at all sidewalk intersections through town. Traffic will be maintained during construction with the use of flaggers and a pilot car. The work is scheduled to be completed in July 2014.
The Department of Roads’ project manager is Michael Rudnick of Ainsworth. Motorists are urged to use caution while driving through highway work zones and to remember that fines are doubled when workers are present.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (April 15, 2014) – Donating blood is safe, simple and the benefit is profound; it saves lives. The donation process takes less than one hour and will help save the lives of up to three different hospital patients in our community.
The process is simple! Donors will register, fill out a brief history questionnaire, give one pint of blood, then rest and enjoy cookies and beverages in the snack area. Blood donors must be 16 years of age or older, weigh at least 120 pounds, be in general good health, and donors should eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids before donating blood.
Make a difference in your community and give a life-saving gift to someone in need by giving blood at an upcoming blood drive.
O'Neill Community Blood Drive, Monday, April 28, 2014 from 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital, 300 N. 2nd Street.
Sign up to save a life today! Schedule a blood donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800.287.4903.
Community Service Award Presented to OHS Teacher Gary Hostert by NSEA Vice President Leann Widhalm of Norfolk
For the past 26 years, O’Neill High School teacher Gary Hostert has been actively involved in activities in his place of work as well as the community.
On Saturday, April 12, Hostert was recognized for his community service before nearly 300 teaching colleagues from across the state at the annual Delegate Assembly of the Nebraska State Education Association. The NSEA Community Service Award is presented to a member who goes beyond the call of duty in the volunteer arena.
For more than 25 years, Hostert has organized annual St. Patrick’s Day and Autism Fun Runs. He also serves on the alumni Basketball/Volleyball Tournament Committee; handles radio broadcasts of local sporting events; and is a regular on the KBRX Dawg Pound Sports Show, a once-a-week program that supports all area athletes.
In school, he organizes the annual Geography Bee; began the college pendant tradition at his high school, asking every graduate to send their college pendant to be displayed in the high school’s main hall. At church, he volunteers to read, usher and sponsor young members.
Hostert, a member of the O’Neill Education Association, received the award from NSEA Vice President Leann Widhalm of Norfolk.
The Assembly, which draws educators from every corner of the state, allows Association members to set the course for the NSEA for the coming year. Locally-elected delegates updated the organization’s Bylaws and Resolutions, and approved New Business Items, which direct Association leaders to take specific action.
This was the 153rd Delegate Assembly in the Association’s 147-year history. NSEA was founded in October 1867 in Brownville, and now has 28,000 members statewide.
The 2014 O'Neill High School Prom Royalty Candidates are:
BR: Jon Hunt, Marcus McNichols, Charley Burtwistle, Nate Gotschall, and Brock Schueth
FR: Nicole Babutzke, Catrina Spangler, Breanna Jakubowski, Abby Krysl, and Sam Slack
The OHS Prom will be held at the O'Neill Community Center on Saturday, April 26th. Coronation will be held immediately after the Grand March, which begins at 8:00PM, and the public is invited to attend.
Jack Hoffman (front, left) is pictured with OHS senior Tim Lechtenberg (center, kneeling) and Aidan Spangler (front, right) with members of the Eagle wrestling team.
The O'Neill Eagle wrestling team collected over $6,600 worth of donations from area supporters for the Team Jack Foundation as part of their Pins4Aidan campaign. An ongoing part of the wrestling season, the Eagles asked for donations for every pin they made this year. As the pins racked up, the money was raised in the name of 8-year-old Aidan Spangler, who was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer at the age of two. Senior Tim Lechtenberg, who took a proactive role in the Eagles' part of the campaign, reported the total number of pins this season at 313. Although the exact money total was not available, Lechtenberg estimated that donations were in the neighborhood of $6,600 to $6,700. The money raised was donated to the Team Jack Foundation in the name of Aidan on Tuesday afternoon, with members of Coach Bryan Corkle's wrestling team and the Spanglers and Hoffmans present.
O'Neill Public Schools is excited to introduce Mr. Corey Fisher as the new principal for the Junior-Senior High School pending formal approval by the school board. Mr. Fisher comes to O'Neill from Ravenna High School where he has served as principal for the past five years. Please make Mr. Fisher and his family feel welcome to O'Neill!
Mr. Fisher's Bio:
My name is Corey Fisher and I am excited to be the new high school principal at O'Neill High School. I have worked in public school education for sixteen years and have had the opportunity to be a part of three outstanding school districts. I take a lot of pride in the successes of my students and consider it a privilege to work with teachers and parents as we help students grow and progress through junior and senior high school. My wife Andrea and I have two daughters Briley (4) and Brenna (1-1/2). We really look forward to being a part of the O'Neill community and an OHS Eagle!
EDUCATION:
High School: Arapahoe High School (Class of 1992)
College: Wayne State College (1998)
* BS Education K-12 (Health and Physical Education)
* Coaching Endorsement
University of Nebraska at Kearney (2003)
* MSE Education Administration Grades K-12
CAREER EXPERIENCE: Ravenna Public Schools (August 2009-Present)-----Secondary Principal Elgin Public Schools (August 2004-May 2009)--Secondary Principal/Athletic Director Litchfield Public Schools (August 2003-May 2004)--K-12 Principal/Athletic Director Elgin Public Schools (August 1998-May 2003)
K-12 Health/P.E.
Head Coach--Girls Basketball and Boys Golf
Assistant Coach--Football
West Holt FFA traveled to the State FFA Convention in Lincoln with 38 members participating in leadership skills events, proficiency awards, and career development events and the junior high quiz bowl. Highlights of the convention included both the Nursery & Landscape and Floriculture teams finishing as State Champions and senior Josh Coyle being recognized as a State Star Finalist in Agricultural Placement.
West Holt State FFA Degree Winners – Tyler Coburn, Thomas Rentschler, Caitlin Cole, Logan Judge, Jakob Laible, Josh Coyle, Advisor David Gibbens
State FFA Degrees: 6 members earned their State FFA Degree based on their leadership development and supervised agricultural experience program. Degree winners were Tyler Coburn, Caitlin Cole, Josh Coyle (Star Finalist), Logan Judge, Jakob Laible, and Thomas Rentschler.
Proficiency Awards: FFA members submit applications based on their supervised agricultural experience program. Members can compete up to one year out of high school. Members are awarded either Gold, Silver, or Bronze awards. Award winners were Cole Gibbens, State Winner (Gold) Outdoor Recreation; Autumn Lemmer, Gold Diversified Livestock Production; and Kylie Bendig, Silver Agricultural Mechanics.
Leadership Skills Events: Jake Judge competed in the Creed Speaking event, earning a Bronze award.
Career Development Events: Top students and teams earn ribbons (purple, blue, red, or white). Nursery and Landscape State Champion Team; Paige Mitchell (Purple, State Champion), Kyle Linders (Puple), Jacob Tasler (Purple), Kassidy Jelinek (Blue); Paige received a $1000 scholarship from Stihl Corporation and a $500 UNL College of Agriculture scholarship. This makes the 9th year in a row West Holt has won this event. Floriculture State Champion Team; Paige Mitchell (Purple), Mackenzie Hale (Purple), Caitlyn Nelson (Purple), Josh Coyle (Purple) Natural Resources 7th Place, Purple Team; Jacob Tasler (Blue), Tyler Coburn (Purple), Evan Laible (Red), Troy Childress (White) Agronomy 11th Place, Blue Team; Tyler Coburn (Purple), Riley Bilstein (Blue), Thomas Rentschler (Red), Breydon Mlady (Red) Agriscience 14th Place, Blue Team; Megan Bilstein (Blue), Jake Judge (Blue), Seth Wentworth (Blue), Emma Laible Meat Evaluation White Team; Cameron Schmuecker (White), Alyssa Vanderbeek (White), Cody Davis (White), Kylie Bendig Veterinary Science; Courteney Hostert (White), Lindy Woita (White), Aaron Seger, Taylor Deseive Junior Livestock Judging; Cassidy Brindisi, Jessie Mohnsen, Seth Miller, Theo Stenka Senior Livestock Judging; Lindy Woita (Purple), Troy Childress, Dillon Larby, Tate Mathis
The Junior High quiz bowl included over 100 teams from across the state. Students answered questions related to agriculture and FFA. Team members were Emily Burk, Mason Hale, Brea Hostert, and Bailey Kraus. Brea also competed in the Discovery Speaking event.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.
Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a life-changing experience. At Relay, every person in the community has a chance to celebrate, remember, and fight back. And every person who participates joins others around the globe as part of this worldwide movement to end cancer.
Everyone's reason to Relay is as unique as their own personal story. At Relay, you can find healing, comfort, and support from others who have faced cancer or who have lost a loved one to the disease. You have a chance to meet people in the community who are equally as passionate about finding an end to cancer in our lifetime. You can thank all the people who have done so much to support you through your personal cancer experience. And you can gather together with friends, family, and colleagues to laugh, cry, and create lasting memories.
No matter why you take part in Relay, however, one thing is clear: with every step you take, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives. With your help, we aren’t just fighting one type of cancer – we’re fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. Each person who shares the Relay experience can take pride in knowing that they are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones or claim another year of anyone’s life.
Relay is a moving celebration of cancer survivorship. The event begins with a Survivors Lap in which cancer survivors take a victory lap around the track. A candlelight ceremony is held later in the evening to honor cancer survivors and remember those who we’ve lost to this disease.
The 2014 Relay For Life of Holt County will be on Saturday, June 7th at the O’Neill High School Track with the opening ceremony beginning at 6:00 p.m. Won’t you please help us Give Cancer the Boot? We invite you to join us. Please consider having a team, if you are a survivor please register as a special guest or consider being a sponsor. If you have questions, please contact Pat Fritz at (402)336-2098.
The School of Business & Technology at Wayne State College held its annual Business Competition Day on Thursday, April 10. Over 300 students from 22 regional Nebraska and South Dakota high schools competed in multiple areas of business competitive events, including: Accounting I and II; Advertising; Business Beyond Borders; Business Communications; Business Comprehensive Knowledge; Business Plan; College Quiz Bowl; Computer Literacy; Consumer Smarts; Datamania; Digital Citizenship; Marketing; Keyboarding I and II Speed Timings; Sales Presentation; and Web Wizardry.
The event is co-sponsored by various business student organizations, including Pi Omega Pi and Sigma Beta Delta honor societies. The top three winning schools will receive a Business Competition Day Scholarship to award to a graduating senior majoring in Business at Wayne State College next Fall. Event coordinator is Dr. Patricia Arneson of the School of Business.
Placing for West Boyd were Megan Goesch-1st in Accounting II, 1st in Computer Literacy, 2nd in Consumer Smarts, and 2nd in Web Design; Kimi Hiatt-2nd in Digital Citizenship, and 2nd in Web Design; Rebecca Hiatt-3rd in Sales Presentation and Marissa McGeorge-4th in Accounting I. Others competing were Emma Stahlecker and Elsie Magwire. Students were accompanied by their teacher, Melanie Black.
The cast of STRIKING 12 after their Saturday night performance.
The O’Neill High School drama department presented STRIKING 12, a Groove Lily musical, April 12th and 13th with power, passion, and pizzaz! Based around Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Match Girl, STRIKING 12 strives to remind us that we need to take care of each other, show compassion, and look at life with a positive outlook. We laughed, we cried, we laughed again, all while tapping our feet along with the rock and jazz numbers that made us want to stand up and cheer. Thank you to everyone who attended the performances and congratulations to a hard-working, talented, and positive cast, crew, and band who brought this amazing show to life in O’Neill!
Neligh, Nebraska — The Cowboy and Indian Alliance created a crop art image, the size of 80 football fields, to send President Obama a message to protect the Heartland by rejecting the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline. Tribes, farmers and ranchers are now headed to Washington, DC for a week-long series of actions called Reject and Protect. The image was created by artist John Quigley and was inspired by tribal artist Richard Vollaire of the Tongva Nation.
Aerial view of Crop Art north of Neligh
The crop art is directly on the proposed path of Keystone XL, which also crosses the Ponca Trail of Tears. Landowner Art Tanderup said, "This land has been in our family for over 100 years. We have always been stewards of the land. The soil is very sandy here, any leak would leach into the Ogallala Aquifer contaminating our water without any concrete plan to clean up the pollution. With this crop art we are literally drawing a line in the sand and asking President Obama to stand with our families.”
The massive crop design of a cowboy and Indian warrior includes key images of water and a hashtag made of arrows. A sun with seven rays depicts the tribal tradition of protecting seven generations and the renewable energy farmers, ranchers and tribes want to see on their land rather than a tarsands pipeline that risks their water. The aerial image was taken over Art and Helen Tanderup's land in a crop duster plane from 3,000 feet. Art Tanderup dug the image lines with his tractor following the direction of flags planted by volunteers and artistic on-the-ground direction of John Quigley.
“Americans always go big when they’re pushed to their limits. This image, which may well be the largest crop art ever, sends the message that the good people of the Heartland have the courage to stand up for their rights to clean water. They reject the bullying of TransCanada and will defend their land,” said artist John Quigley
The Keystone XL route crosses the Ponca Trail of Tears without a proper cultural analysis from the state of Nebraska or the US State Department. Aldo Seoane with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe said, “The United States and TransCanada have consistently and intentionally disregarded the concerns of tribal nations and concerned citizens. We as tribal people have been here since the beginning of time and we have seen the best and worst of what people can create. This pipeline is certainly the worst thing that can happen to our land, our water and our people.”
The series of actions called Reject and Protect will take place April 22-27 in Washington, DC. Landowners and tribes share a common goal of protecting the land and water from risky projects like the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline. Jane Kleeb of Bold Nebraska put the action into context, "President Obama has deep family roots in the Heartland and was adopted into a tribal family. It's too easy in Washington to only think about politics. Our families may not contribute millions to candidates, but we do put food on America's table and can only do that with clean water that is tarsands-free."
“President Obama and Secretary Kerry have a chance to stand with Americans concerned about their livelihoods and their futures. They can choose to listen to these voices and reject Keystone XL or they can choose to bow to the pressures of Big Oil bent on jamming this pipeline through our nation’s Heartland,” said David Turnbull, Campaigns Director of Oil Change International.
Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development Nebraska state director, presents a certificate to Bill Mowinkel, administrator of ESU #8, recognizing a $287,442 grant to update ESU #8s distance learning equipment to connect 30 schools with Northeast Community College. It is part of $1.2 million in funding awarded to several ESUs in the state. (Courtesy Photo)
NELIGH – Educational Service Units (ESUs) in Northeast and North Central Nebraska have been awarded a grant to further their distance learning capabilities.
USDA Rural Development Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul visited Neligh recently to present officials of ESU #8 a certificate recognizing the $287,442 grant to upgrade its distance learning equipment between 30 schools and Northeast Community College. It is part of $1.2 million in funding awarded to several ESUs in the state.
Moul said the grant will allow students to be able to take advance placement classes, dual credit classes, and job skills training. “It is essential to expand distance learning so as to expand education to our students. It is with great pleasure Rural Development is able to assist in the ESU’s distance learning efforts,” she said. “The ability of this particular grant to help students in these ESUs gain college credit through Northeast Community College is another wonderful advantage of distance learning. It’s great to see how this opens the world to our children.”
“ESU #8 is honored and humbled to receive this grant. This will be a benefit to all districts involved and Northeast Community College, said Bill Mowinkel, ESU #8 administrator. “We applaud the efforts of our own Molly Aschoff and Mary Gurney in the preparation and submission of this grant application. Thanks also goes out to USDA Rural Development in recognizing the need to extend and expand educational opportunities to rural Northeast Nebraska.”
Aschoff, who serves as the distance learning coordinator for ESU #8, said this grant will also reach schools in ESU #17, which includes schools in Ainsworth, Bassett, Cody-Kilgore, Springview and Valentine, as well as Knox County schools served by ESU #1. “We have students here in Neligh taking classes through the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. We also had eleven local Vietnam veterans here send a program out to our schools this past fall on Veterans Day.”
Aschoff said distance learning technology has also allowed everyone from local day care providers to dental hygienists get their service and continuing education hours. “The equipment is not only for our schools, we reach out to our communities a well. There are no longer boundaries thanks to distance learning,” she said.
“We appreciate the work of the staff of ESU #8 in successfully obtaining this grant,” said Dr. Michael Chipps, president of Northeast, who was also on hand for Moul’s presentation. “This is really a wonderful opportunity for us to grow and expand our operations with the schools you serve. Thank you for including us in the great work you continue to do.”
Pictured are: front l/r - Abby Gillham, Lauren Osborne, Marissa Lichty, Ariel Lichty, Haley Schmeichel, Emma Krysl, Faith Walton
Back Row l/r - Amanda Pischel, Marie Sitz, McKenzie Adamson, Abby Krysl, Emily Morrow, Allison Becker, Allison Ludwig, Grace Bunner
15 members of the O’Neill FCCLA Chapter traveled to the State Leadership Conference April 7-8 in Lincoln.
In STAR competition, State Champions and National Qualifiers were:
Allison Becker, Allison Ludwig, and Emily Morrow in Sports Nutrition Junior Division
Marissa Lichty and Haley Schmeichel in Chapter Service Project Display, Junior Division
Lauren Osborne was State Champion in Family Challenges and Issues, Junior Division
Emma Krysl was State Runner-Up and National Qualifier in Nutrition and Wellness, Junior Division
Grace Bunner and Amanda Pischel were Silver Medalists in Chapter Service Project Display, Senior Division
Faith Walton received a certificate in Recycle-Redesign, Junior Division.
Ariel Lichty was elected to the State Officer Team.
Marie Sitz was elected District 9 Secretary.
Abby Krysl served as an Honorary Conference Assistant.
Also attending from O’Neill were McKenzie Adamson and Abby Gillham.
Farewell is pictured above with the 2013-14 Nebraska FCCLA president, Viktor Jonseth of the West Holt FCCLA Chapter
In celebration of National Autism Awareness Month, YSA honors Alexa Farewell, 17, of Chambers, Nebraska for educating her peers and her community about autism. After hearing a presentation on autism at the 2013 National FCCLA Conference, Farewell was inspired to return home to Nebraska and educate her peers and about autism.
Working with her FCCLA chapter, Farewell and her peers hosted a Light It Up Blue event in conjunction with the international autism community. For its Light It Up Blue event, Farewell organized a fundraiser in which team members and coaches from opposing schools competed in a basketball game. Donations from the game and the earnings from Light It Up Blue t-shirts sales were donated to Autism Speaks to help support its work in educating the global community about autism.
In addition to hosting the fundraiser, Farewell and her peers displayed signs throughout their schools displaying facts about autism. Through key partnerships with the local radio station and newspaper, Farewell was able to educate more than 1,000 people in her community about autism.
For educating her community about autism, and inspiring others to volunteer their time and money to further autism research and awareness, we honor Alexa Farewell as an Everyday Young Hero.
For the 59th year, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, along with the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, will recognize Nebraska farm families with the Pioneer Farm Award. The program requires that the land of qualifying families has been consecutively owned by the same family for 100 years or more.
Also, new in 2014, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and Nebraska Farm Bureau have instituted the Heritage Farm Award, which will recognize Nebraska farm families who have consecutively held ownership of land within the same family for 150 years.
Recipients are presented a plaque and gatepost marker during the annual county fair in which the land is owned.
Families interested in applying for the Pioneer Farm Award or the Heritage Farm Award need to fill out an application that can be found at aksarben.org/programs-2/pioneer-farm2-2 or contact a Holt county fair board member (Kirk Shane, Dennis Miller, Junior Young or Della Grass). The application also must be signed by a county fair board member and returned to the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben by May 1.
This a great award to honor our local traditions and legacy in farming and ranching in Holt County.
O’Neill High School sent 35 students to the NECC Scholastic Competition in Norfolk on April 8th. The contest involved 44 tests and OPS competed in 40 of them. Eleven students scored in 14 tests by placing in the top three as our students finished in 5th place both in our division and overall among the 47 schools in attendance. The contest also served as the Mid State Scholastic contest as the Eagles placed 3rd within the conference standings. The O’Neill High School quiz bowl made it to the quarterfinals.
Individual place winners:
Collin Nemec placing first in Chemistry and third in Anatomy and Physiology
Nicole Babutzke – 1st Public Speaking
Robyn Isom – 1st Spanish I
Brock Schueth – 1st Welding (GMAW) and 2nd in Basic Construction
Kyle Fowler – 1st Welding ((FCAW-GS)
Caleb Ross – 1st Welding (SMAW)
Lydia Sigler – 2nd Art History
Ivo De Souza Bueno – 2nd Algebra II
Blake Walters – 3rd Auto Technology
Derek Krieger – 3rd Drafting
Kristina Tompkins – 3rd Vocabulary
The Holt County Public Speaking Contest will be held: Friday, April 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the Holt County Annex. The evening will kick off with speeches given by 4-Hers from four age divisions. Clover Kids (ages 5-7 by January 1) are eligible to participate by reciting a poem or short story. The Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions must recite an original speech relating to 4-H. The Junior division is for youth ages 8-10, Intermediate ages 11-13 and Senior division ages 14-18.
The Public Service Announcement (PSA) theme for 2014 is “Making a Lasting Impact”. Radio PSA’s must be submitted on a CD. Please use .wav or .mp3 audio formats when recording your PSA. PSA’s must also be turned in by Friday, April 11 to the Holt County Extension Office.
Please register for the contest by Friday, April 11 - call Megan at 402-336-2760 or e-mail mhanefeldt2@unl.edu with the name of the 4-H youth, division, and title of the speech. PSA’s must be submitted by April 11 on CD with an outline.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (April 15, 2014) – Donating blood is safe, simple and the benefit is profound; it saves lives. The donation process takes less than one hour and will help save the lives of up to three different hospital patients in our community. 
Community Service Award Presented to OHS Teacher Gary Hostert by NSEA Vice President Leann Widhalm of Norfolk
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