 After more than two months of searching for Kenny Angel, family members announced Sunday they will have a memorial service on Sun, June 1, at 2 p.m. at the Community Hall in Spencer. Although smaller searches will continue, Scott Angel said the family has found closure.
Dozens of volunteers, along with two National Guard helicopters, the Nebraska State Patrol, Holt County Sheriff's Department an many firefighters continued searching over the weekend but did not recover Angel, who was swept away by the Niobrara River in March when the Spencer Dam collapsed. "The Angel family would like to thank everyone that helped, supported prayed for or thought of us today in our search for Kenny," Scott Angel posted on Facebook as an update. He added, "We can't thank everyone enough for the help they've bestowed on the Angel family. The generosity extended and the love and care shown to us has been somewhat overwhelming." Angel wrote that the biggest advantage Sunday was the cadaver dogs. "There was a point when two different dogs alerted at the same spot. We had 27 people there immediately and within minutes they were digging through the mud, chopping through downed trees and pulling logs out with ATV winches. We dug, we searched, dogs looked again. The dogs were convinced that something was there but we were unable to find anything. Gerald Pritchett even went so far as to bring his mini excavator down and assist us," Angel wrote. He said land owners must now begin cleaning and clearing their land, rebuilding fences and stabilizing river banks. Hunters will be using this land, albeit having different cover for animals now. Spring is here, and everyone needs to look to the future and what it holds. "It's time to call this search the closure we've needed. We've searched from the ground, the air, the water. We've used people, dogs, airplanes, helicopters and boats. We've spent hundreds and hundreds of hours searching. We've climbed through ice, mud and debris. We didn't get the results we had hoped for but we must remember that closure comes in different ways. For us, it comes in knowing that we've done everything we can to look for Kenny and finding him simply wasn't meant to be," he said. Smaller searches will continue, Angel said, including by the Nebraska Game and Parks, hunters and many pilots. "There will be people looking under logs, behind trees, along the river banks and in the water for many years. A person like Kenny Angel is not easily forgotten. In the words of his good friends, Chris and Mary Langille, who spent the weekend with us, Kenny has become the river's local folk hero. The search isn't over, but for now, we're all looking ahead to what else life has in store for us," Angel wrote. "Again, thank you to everyone that has helped us. March 14 is a day the Angel family will always remember."  The Holt County Attorney’s Office filed charges in Juvenile Court on two 12-year-old boys from Atkinson regarding several burglaries and thefts that occurred in Atkinson in September of this year, according to a press release from Brent Kelly, Holt County Attorney.
Kelly said Atkinson police were able to connect the two juveniles to two separate burglaries of the Roadrunner convenience store in Atkinson, as well as a burglary at a lumberyard in Atkinson.  Two individuals suspected of committing a residential robbery in O'Neill, Nebraska on Saturday have been arrested in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The suspects were identified as Nicole Vanness age 36, of O'Neill, Nebraska and Bradley Furman age 28, of O'Neill, Nebraska. The O'Neill Police Department appreciates the public's help regarding this matter and thanks the Holt County Attorney Office, Holt County Sheriff's Office, Boyd-Holt E911 Dispatch Center, the Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.  The O'Neill Police Department is attempting to locate Nichole Ann Vanness and Bradley Scott Furman. Vanness and Furman are wanted for questioning in an armed robbery from a residence in O'Neill Saturday evening.
If located, the O'Neill Police advice to take caution and notify the police immediately at 402-336-1313.  Weather permitting, work has begun on US-281 from Chambers to O'Neill, Reference Post 165.5 to Reference Post 182.97, according to the Department of Transportation.
Monarch Oil of Omaha has the $739,329 contract. Work will include paving driving lanes as well as fog sealing shoulders and approaches. Traffic will be maintained with flaggers and pilot cars. The anticipated completion is July 2018. The Department's project manager is Carl Hart of Ainsworth. Motorists are asked to drive cautiously through construction zones.  Weather permitting, road work will begin May 29 on N-11, 15 miles south of Atkinson, Reference Post 133.82 to Reference Post 142.26, according to the Nebraska Department of
Transportation. Werner Construction Co., of Hastings, Nebraska has the $2,495,965 contract for this project. Work will include bridge repair, milling, asphalt paving, drainage structures, and grading. Traffic will be maintained during construction with lane closures as well as flaggers with a pilot vehicle. A 12-foot width restriction will be in place. The project is anticipated to be completed in late October. The Department’s project manager is Dan Ziska of O’Neill. Motorists are advised to use caution when encountering construction zones and to expect delays.  Several Holt County natives were among those recognized at the pinning ceremony held for Northeast Community College nursing students.
Barbie Donohoe and Rita Sterns of O'Neill, and Jason Seger of Atkinson received their nursing pins during a special ceremony recently at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. During the ceremony, the graduating nursing students received their pins from family members or a close friend who has helped them along their journey. “Today, we celebrate the educational success and journey that 42 Practical Nurses and 28 Associate Degree Nurses have completed,” said Dr. Michele Gill, dean of health and wellness. “There have been many quizzes, tests, lab experiences, clinicals and study sessions in your pursuit of this academic achievement thus far, and we are so very proud of you all.” Gill said the observance is the culmination of the students’ initial journey to professional nursing education. “The annual ceremony is a bridge from nursing’s past to nursing’s future and is a time-honored nursing school tradition. It signifies the official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses.” The history of the pinning ceremony goes back to the Crusades of the 12th century. The modern ceremony dates back to the mid-19th century when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George for her tireless service to the injured during the Crimean War. To share the honor, she in turn presented a medal of excellence to her brightest graduates. In addition to the pinning ceremony, one associate degree nursing (ADN) and one practical nursing student were presented the Essence of Nursing Award for their consistent academic effort, caring actions, positive motivation toward classroom learning and clinical experience, and professional behaviors. Jamie Petz, West Point, ADN student, and Rebecka Mackling, Emerson, practical nursing student, were honored with the award. Chris Wood, Lincoln, president of the Student Nurses Association, gave the student address at the ceremony. Upon completion of the first two semesters of nursing studies at Northeast, students are eligible to take the National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become licensed practical nurses. Students who hold a 3.0 grade point average in their nursing courses are eligible to complete the last two semesters of the Northeast program and take the National Council of Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to practice as licensed registered nurses. Students who graduate with an associate degree in nursing are eligible to continue their studies for a bachelor of science degree in nursing. The general education courses for a bachelor of science in nursing can be taken at Northeast Community College. Students who were pinned with the Associate Degree Nursing pin include: Nebraska: Bassett - Hollie Morton, Kelsey Venenga; Battle Creek - Kourtney Jones; Bellwood - Paige Birkel; Carroll - Natalie Sieler; Clarkson - Leslie Urbanek; Columbus - Samantha Finecy; Creighton- Melinda Murphy; Emmet - Erin Judge; Hoskins - Tegan Karella; Lincoln - Chris Wood; Lynch - Madison Rossmeier; Madison - Jordan Freudenburg; Neligh - Christina Scott; Norfolk - Carrie Cooper, Heather Ebel, Ashley Sieler; Oakland - Alicia Isner; O’Neill - Barbie Donohoe; Pierce - Emily Willard; Plainview - Audrey Blum; Saint Edward - Whitney Wurdeman; Silver Creek - Brittany Marker; South Sioux City - Yvonne Basilio; Springview - Sophia Sawle; West Point - Jamie Petz. Out of State: IA, Mapleton - Lorissa Peterson; NY, Long Beach - Krystal Spanopoulas. Students who were pinned with the Practical Nursing pin include: Nebraska: Atkinson - Jason Seger; Bloomfield - Cory Sonnichsen; Bristow - Mary Ruda; Brunswick - Amberly Erickson; Clearwater - Cassidy Steskal; Creighton - Khristina Stevens; Dixon - Michaela Nitz, Laura Showen; Dunning - Michaela Goedeke; Elgin - Laura Ruge; Emerson - Rebecka Mackling; Hartington - Andrew O’Brien; Hershey - Kourtney Hart; Humphrey - Kami Hackerott; Norfolk - MaKenzie Gordan, Melisa Green, Evie Kelly, Brittni Merchant, Heather Salmon, Makel Sazama, Zoe Serres, Allison Soward, LeAnn Sweigard, Grace Wapelhorst, Aly Wilke; North Platte - Jaime Titus; O’Neill - Rita Sterns; Orchard - Kimberly Dickerson; Papillion - Tegan Nissen; Pierce - Brooklyn Houdek; Stanton - Shana Fry, Sara Vollbrecht; Superior - Bailey Williams; Sutherland - Hannah Hansen; Tilden - Ranee Keehn; Waterbury - Mariah Kramer; Wausa - Cindi Bruckner; Wayne - Lexi Allen; West Point - Jade Duhsman; Winside - Dominique Kelberlau; Wisner - Charlotte Wolff. International: Gabon, Libreville - Yvonne Mezegue. The majority of the practical nursing students have chosen to continue in the associate degree nursing program at Northeast. Each nursing school, at every level of education, has its own unique pin which is worn on the nursing uniform. The nursing school pin that graduates of the Northeast Community College’s associate degree nursing and licensed practical nursing program receive is symbolic of nursing’s heritage and tradition.  Eight Holt County natives were welcomed into Northeast Community College’s international honor society in a special ceremony recently.
Sarah Hamik and Cody Wells of Atkinson; Hannah Kruntorad of Ewing; and Breanna Hedstrom, Jayde Rosenkrans, Logan Connot, Rita Sterns, and Tejlor Strope of O'Neill were eight of 159 students that were installed into Northeast’s Phi Theta Kappa, (PTK), Tau Chi chapter during the spring 2018 induction ceremony held in the Lifelong Learning Center. Since the installation of Northeast’s Tau Chi chapter in 1996, approximately 3,100 students have been inducted into the international academic honor society for two-year colleges. For more than 80 years, membership in Phi Theta Kappa has signified a singular honor and a willingness to embrace the Society’s shared commitment to academic excellence. To be eligible for PTK, students must have earned at least 12 credit hours and achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or above out of a 4.0 system. Dr. Michael Chipps, president of Northeast Community College, spoke at the ceremony. He told students that their dedication to academic excellence aligns with the College’s commitment to student success. “If we really believe that teaching and learning is what we’re all about, and that’s very important to a college, you exemplify what that means. You are the individuals who rise above, who really do great work, both academically and professionally.” Dr. Michele Gill, dean of health and wellness at Northeast, thanked the Tau Chi chapter for serving as “catalysts” in the College’s academic integrity campaign, which included a series of week-long events the chapter developed to inform and educate approximately 1,050 Northeast students on topics such as plagiarism, proper citation and others. “Your student voice leads to the awareness and importance of academic integrity that’s changing our campus culture and positively moving us forward. Catalysts do just that. They cause change and serve as a stimulus for change.” The following Northeast Community College students have qualified for PTK during Spring 2018 semester: Nebraska Ainsworth - Elizabeth Goshorn; Arlington - Jacqueline Bartosh; Battle Creek - Leann Aldana, Cody Borgelt; Beemer - Gina Renner; Blair - Madison Kment, Allyson Schlueter; Bloomfield - Ashley Guenther, Wilson Wagner; Bristow - Mary Ruda; Clarkson - MaGyver Brabec, Joseph Kratochvil; Columbus - Ryanne Lueders, Spencer Van Buskirk, Noah Wynn; Creston - Karmen Hake; Elgin - Jordan Mescher; Elyria - Jessica Michalski; Ewing - Hannah Kruntorad; Franklin - Payton Rose; Hampton - Tayler Klassen; Hartington - Adam Loecker, Courtney Pick, Kelby Schommer, Paige Wuebben; Hoskins - Evan Puls, Bailey Wetzel; Howells - Samantha Brester; Hubbard - Caleb Gubbels; Humphrey - Crystal Brandl, Chase Eisenmenger; Lyons - Jacob Nelson; Madison - Kelsey Bartak, Kamara Hackerott, Moriah Hart, Shane Ruh; McCook - Joseph Biegler; Nebraska City - Brennen Bales; Neligh - Alexa Rae Dennis, Hallie Knutson, Tia Smith; Norfolk - Alex Anderson, Joshua Bennett, Zoey Bergman, Taylor Borst, Tricia Brandl, Max Dederman, Shawn French, Nicole Frewing, Zaine Gallagher, Kyle Grashorn, Allison Hasebroock, Dominique Kelberlau, Whitney Lindsay, Jacob Mrsny, Emily Sojka, Halle Wiese; Oakland - Jamie Johnson; Ogallala - Cordell Walker; O’Neill - Breanna Hedstrom; Ord - Dana Fahrenholz, Tanner Knight; Osceola - Trae Meysenburg; Palmer - Michael Wolfe; Pierce - Alexander Retzlaff, Emily Simmons; Pleasanton - Trey Keaschall; Randolph - Sarah Aschoff, Andrew Schnoor; Seward - Lea Kayton, Molly Suhr; Shelby - Delaney Belt; Silver Creek - Sara Czarnick; South Sioux City - Kori Fischer, Juan Hernandez, Lizeth Hernandez, Abdirahman Jama, Sara Navarro, Ashton Wilson; Stanton - Sara Vollbrecht; Verdigre - Madisen Randa, Kayla Vondracek; Wayne - Dannica Chrisman, Ashlee Hingst, Caitlin Janke, Jessica Lueth, Sydnie Niemann, Jacqueline Sherman, Morgan Sievers, Morgan Swanson; Winnebago - Zachary Swanson. Out of State CO, Canon City - Elizabeth McCalla IA, Hospers - Dustin Schmit IA, Sioux City - Thuy Ho IL, Elgin - Teagan Pompa PA, Johnstown - Robert Thomas SD, Dakota Dunes - Delaney Jensen SD, Sioux Falls - Ashley Jenkins SD, Yankton - Preslee Edler TX, Hughes Springs - Stephen Richardson International Italy, Reggio Emilia - Massimiliano Simonazzi The following Northeast Community College students qualified for PTK during Fall 2017 semester: Nebraska Ainsworth - Melissa Franklin; Albion - Staci Sandman; Atkinson - Sarah Hamik, Cody Wells; Battle Creek - Ashley Dittberner; Beemer - Morgan Eisenhauer; Carroll - Mikyla Bartos; Clarkson- Rachel Rupprecht; Coleridge - Joshua Davison; Columbus - Kaitlyn Hogeland; Dakota City - Stacie Pfister; Fullerton - Katherine Shotkoski; Hemingford - Cole Walters; Humphrey - Amy Slama; Kennard - Jacob Miller; Neligh - Hunter Bergman; Norfolk - David Avery, Issa Bissiri, Ana Gonzalez Suarez, Seth Johnson, Yolanda Mendez, Brooklyn Osborne, Bethany Phelps, Justice Price, Justin Snorton, Abdoul Sore, Sabrina Swenson; O’Neill - Jayde Rosenkrans, Logan Connot, Rita Sterns, Tejlor Strope; Palisade - Daryn Carroll; Pierce - Sadie Johanson, Morgan Stone; Platte Center - Rebecca Brauner; Plattsmouth - Jaime Titus; Saint Libory - Kristin Trenhaile; Schuyler - Myiesha Hartman, Allen Zrust; South Sioux City - Nicholle Edwards, Domingo Franco, Maria Garcia-Lemus; Spencer - Alyssa Ludwig; Sutton - Trevor Griess; Tilden - Joseph O’Brien, William O’Brien; Valentine - Maslon Poulsen; Valparaiso - Stephanie Draper; Wakefield - Rachel Backman, Megan Borg, Danika Dorcey, Savannah Nelson; Waterbury - Manjula Seneviratne; West Point - Taylor Miserez, Matthew Schuetze; Winside - Connor Lemke-Elznic. Out of State IA, Moville - Celeste Durant IA, Sioux City - Melissa Cruz Saldana Northeast Phi Theta Kappa sponsors are Colleen Barnes, criminal justice/sociology instructor, Amanda Nipp, vice president of student services, and Andrea Suhr, physical therapist assistant instructor. Northeast Community College offers over 80 concentrations/options of study preparing students for immediate employment or transfer to a four-year college or university.  The annual ESU 8 K-8 Spring Art Festival will be held at the Antelope County Fair Grounds Building in Neligh.
K-8 artwork will be displayed from students in the seven county area of Antelope, Boyd, Holt, Madison, Pierce, Stanton and Wheeler Counties. The show will be open to the public from Friday, April 6 through Tuesday, April 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with the exception of Sunday, April 8 - hours will be 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The show will represent approximately 25 schools and 5,550 students. There is no fee to enjoy the Art and everyone is welcome.  The Holt County Sheriff's Department is warning people to be vigilant after a home intrusion Wednesday morning.
According to the department, there was a report of a home intrusion on March 14 at approximately 9:42 a.m. "Luckily the intruder must have realized someone was home and quickly retreated. We ask that everyone be vigilant and watch for suspicious activity both day and night. Lock all doors and don't hesitate to call us if you see something that doesn't look right," the department stated. |
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