 Protests are expected in O’Neill around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon after a large federal law enforcement operation targeted businesses in the north-central Nebraska town of 3,631 people.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid was part of an operation in both Nebraska and Minnesota that saw 14 business owners and managers and 130 workers arrested. Officials say these businesses knowingly hired and mistreated immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Homeland Security Investigations special agent Tracy Cormier described the operation as one of the largest in its 15-year history. Cormier says the focus of the operation was on businesses that knowingly offered for hire immigrants in the country illegally to other businesses, such as farms, meat processors, grain companies and restaurants. Owners and operators of those businesses that hired the immigrants were also targeted for arrest. -Reprinted With Permission From News Channel Nebraska  An O'Neill woman battling breast cancer has been selected as a recipient of financial support from the Pink Bandana organization.
Michelle Bulau, age 33, is a wife, mother, nurse, purpose-seeking, breast cancer survivor. Michelle lives in O'Neill with her husband of nine years, Luke, their five children Lily (7), Jack (6), Emma (4), Ellie (2), Hatti (2), and their 115 lb. St. Bernard named Bernie. Michelle was diagnosed with State IIIB metastatic breast cancer in February 2017. She initially underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy with lymph node dissection, 25 rounds of radiation, followed by an additional 18 weeks of chemotherapy. Michelle works full time as a surgical nurse by day and fills the remaining hours of her day spending time at her children's activities including: gymnastics, wrestling, basketball, baseball, softball and swimming. Michelle is grateful for the past year of ups and downs because it has strengthened her faith in God and has brought some of the most beautiful and genuine people into her life. She asks that everyone keep praying for all cancer patients, both past and present. The Pink Bandana organization raises support and awareness for women in Nebraska, age 40 and under, who are battling breast cancer. Each year, recipients from across Nebraska are chosen to receive financial support. Michelle has been chosen as one of six recipients who will receive support during the 2018 Beat Breast Cancer Mud Volleyball Tournament. The tournament will be held Saturday, July 14 in Prague. To register a team for the tournament, please visit www.pinkbandana.org.  After more than one week, the boiling water notice has been lifted in O'Neill.
According to O’Neill Water Commissioner Curtis Kizzire, the latest water test results came back early Friday afternoon. “We got the results of the second test by email just right there after lunch,” Kizzire said. He said the test results came back clear. “There’s no quantitative amount," Kizzare said. "They test negative for E. coli and chloroforms.” He said they will continue disinfections of the water for an undetermined amount of time as a precaution. “I’m not sure at this point, I’ll bring it up at the council meeting on Monday and discuss that with them," Kizzare said. "At a minimum, I think it ought to go through next week, if not longer.” The boil notice was issued by the City of O'Neill last week after E. coli bacteria was discovered in its distribution system. He said a cross connecting issue with a residence caused the latest contamination and has been corrected.  Don’t miss your opportunity to experience the golden age of aviation history! The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is bringing the first-ever mass produced airliner to O’Neill and is inviting you for a ride aboard our flight. From 1926 through 1933, Ford Motor Company built 199 Tri-Motors. EAA’s model 4-AT-E was the 146th off Ford’s innovative assembly line and first flew on August 21, 1929. It was sold to Pitcairn Aviation’s passenger division, Eastern Air Transport, whose paint scheme is replicated on EAA’s Tri-Motor. For more information about the history of the Ford Tri-Motor and our tour, please visit http://flytheford.org. Public Flight Information Dates: Thursday-Sunday, June 14-17, 2018 Times: Thursday: 2-5 p.m., Friday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Place O'Neill Municipal Airport-John L Baker Field Walk up tickets for adults 18 and older go for $75, but purchasing tickets online at flytheford.com in advance reduces the cost to $70. Tickets for children 17 and under cost $50, and children 2 and under can go for free on the lap of an adult.  Athletic Director Bill Moos, Head Coach Scott Frost and members of the Nebraska football staff will visit all areas of Nebraska as part of the Husker Nation Tour presented by First National Bank. The two-day, 26-town blitz will take place on Monday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 12. Troy Walters and Mike Dawson will be in O'Neill on Tuesday, June 12 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the O'Neill Community Center. All events in the Husker Nation Tour are free and open to the public and give Nebraska fans a chance to meet the coaching staff as preparations continue for the 2018 season. The tour will kick off with Frost, Moos and Associate A.D. for Football Matt Davison highlighting a trip to Scottsbluff and Alliance on Monday. The trio will be at the Gering Civic Center for a mid-day event on Monday, followed by an early evening event at Newberry's in downtown Alliance. Monday evening events will also take place in Valentine (Troy Walters, Mike Dawson) and Ogallala (Erik Chinander, Frank Verducci), before the staff meets fans in 22 towns on Tuesday, June 12. Tuesday groups include Walters and Dawson (O'Neill, Aurora, Seward); Chinander and Verducci (Imperial, McCook, Lexington); Jovan Dewitt and Ryan Held (Kearney, Hastings, Geneva, York); Barrett Ruud and Sean Beckton (Norfolk, South Sioux City, West Point, Blair); Travis Fisher and Mario Verduzco (Wahoo, Fremont, David City, Beatrice) and Moos, Greg Austin and Zach Duval (Falls City, Auburn, Plattsmouth, Gretna). See the full list of tour stops below:   The Boots and Saddle Club will be holding the first horse show of the year on June 10.
The show will be held at Carney Park in south O'Neill. Events include halter classes, lead line, walk-trot, ball and barrel, ribbon race, pleasure, westering riding, poles and barrels. The lunch stand will be sponsoring National FCCLA qualifier Ryann Haburchak from Chambers.  The Northeast Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council in partnership with North Central RC&D, Wayne Green Team and the Cities of Atkinson, O’Neill, and Wayne held household hazardous waste events in April with great results.
Six ton of material was properly disposed of or recycled. One hundred and seventy-five households were served, and they came from twenty-five communities around the region. Amounts collected include: 2820 pounds of pesticide, 7780 pounds of paint, 165 gallons of used oil, 75 gallons of antifreeze, 280 car batteries, and 510 florescent light bulbs. Besides all of that there were 1060 pounds of items that were recycled. This project is funded in part by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.  The United States Air Force Heartland of America Band’s outstanding popular music ensemble, Raptor, will present a free concert at O’Neill High School on Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m.
With a wide musical variety of popular favorites ranging from rock-n-roll classics through the popular music of today, Raptor showcases the Air Force’s excellence, precision, and innovation in every performance. Highlights will include songs made famous by Janis Joplin, Journey, Keith Urban, and Justin Timberlake. The program will also include well known patriotic favorites, with a special salute to the men and women in uniform and those who have selflessly given their lives for our country. This concert is FREE and open to the public; no advanced tickets are required. The O’Neill Friends of the Library are co-hosts for this event.  Two former O'Neill students returned to the high school to perform with their college jazz band.
Alexa Dougherty and Corbin Dean were part of the Northeast Community College Jazz Machine that put on a show in the O'Neill High School Gym on Wednesday. The band will tour for 4 days going to Chambers, Palmer, Shelby, Elgin, Neligh, Pender, Winside, Wynot, and Gayville-Volin. They will conclude their tour in Norfolk on Sunday, April 22, with the home concert along with the swing choir. Corbin stated, “It was fun to come back to O’Neill and play. The crowd was great!"  O'Neill has announced it's 2018 Prom King and Queen candidates.
Front Row (L-R) Gabrielle Scott, Jared Hammerlun, Julia Bauer, Mikayla Marvin, Shayne Campbell, and Payton Birkel. Back Row (L-R) Cauy Shaw, Aurora Gutshall, Alex Thramer, Blair Langan, Ehric Strope, and Wyatt Liewer. This year's "Enchanted Forest" Prom will be held at the O'Neill Community Center on Saturday, April 21st. The public is invited to join the festivities by attending the Grand March, followed by Coronation. Doors will open to the public after the banquet area has been cleared, at approximately 8:20PM. |
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