 A community soup supper is planned for O'Neill Care and Rehabilitation employees who lost three weeks of pay.
The soup supper will be held on Wednesday, April 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in O’Neill. The free will donation meal will include chicken noodle soup, chili, pork sandwich, chips and cinnamon rolls. There will also be silent auction items to bid on. Silent auction items may be dropped off at the Circle BK Office next to Chesterfields or at Pinnacle Bank. Those interested in making a donation may contact Carol Sibbel, Connie Soukup or Julie Regan at Pinnacle Bank 336-1370 or Deb Kelly at 340-6378.  Despite struggles over the past week, O’Neill Care and Rehabilitation Center has been the object of support and contributions from the O’Neill community.
As a needed service in O’Neill and the surrounding communities, CEO Stephanie Clifton wants to ensure that everyone knows they have no intent of going out of business. “We will be keeping our doors open and continuing to provide care to our residents. We have not had one employee not show up, despite no paychecks received on March 23," she said. Clifton is grateful for the love and support the center is being shown. “Everyone’s thoughts and prayers for our residents and staff have sincerely been appreciated as we progress through the recent events involving the placement of O’Neill Care and Rehabilitation Center into a Receivership with the State of Nebraska,” she said. She goes on to say, “The outpouring of support from the O’Neill community, as well as many other contributors such as Immanuel Communities has given us inspiration and confidence that our communities value what we do on a daily basis.” Clifton’s current focus is on her staff, providing help and resources for them as they go through this difficult time, especially knowing that her staff is continuing to provide excellent care to the residents. “Whatever company we may be under, it is the same caring staff providing cares to our residents and ensuring they have what they need. Our residents have never had to go without anything they have needed,” says Clifton. “It has renewed each of our sense of purpose and made our family here at O’Neill Care and Rehabilitation Center stronger than ever,” Clifton spoke about the struggling times. “I can’t help but think of the verse Esther 4:14 ‘Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.’ My staff have shown that their actions were never for a company but for their residents all along.” 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. Ken and Linda Klaasmeyer have been in the healthcare business since 1972. George said she met with them on March 27 to receive initial direction in proceeding forward and “returned to our community with a renewed spirit.” “People should feel better today than last week,” Ken Klaasmeyer said. “There’s more oversight now than they every had before. We’re checking in with the state daily, as well as the facilities and making sure there is staff and food available.” Clifton is confident in the placement, saying “This firm has extended operational experience in working with nursing facilities/assisted living in our state. The State of Nebraska has entrusted the care of our facilities - residents and staff - to them.”  An O'Neill Native is among those in the cast and crew of Don Nigro's "Cinderella Waltz" being put on by Central Community College-Columbus. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. April 5-7 and at 2 p.m. on April 8 in the Fine Arts Theater.
Moira Mangiameli is the director and Levi Howe is the technical director of the play, which is a hilarious, delightful satire of the Cinderella story, complete with wicked stepmother and ugly stepsisters, a handsome prince and a fairy godmother. Be prepared, though, for a lot of surprising twists and turns in this sometimes silly, sometimes poignant fairy tale for grownups. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $7 for general admission. Reservations are not required. Cast and crew members are: Sierra Foged, Aurora (Mrs. Snow); Sara Fritson, Axtell (Assistant Stage Manager); Paige Reimers, Boelus (Ensemble/Box Office); Hunter Derochie (Set Construction), Bethany Ernst (Regan), and Taylor Nelson (Costume Crew Head), all of Columbus; Chynna Buesing, Cozad (Lighting Design Assistant/Light Board); Jake Kucera (Musician) and Matthew Lunde (Head Ensemble), both of David City; Katie Skinner, Exeter (Musician); Amber Foland, Fullerton (Props Head); Sydnee Craig, Giltner (Mother Magee); Christopher Hemmer, Grand Island (Mr. Snow); William Morales-Guerra, Lexington (Ensemble); Jaden Miller, Loup City (Goneril); Mathew Becker (Troll) and Justyce Galvan (Makeup Crew Head), both of Minden; Ashley Archer, Morse Bluff (Props Assistant); Sara Pedersen, Norfolk (Assistant Stage Manager); Veronica Velder, O'Neill (Stage Manager); Sharon Koenig, Osceola (Ensemble/Box Office); Chase Davis, Scotia (Prince Alf).  The Northeast Nebraska RC&D in conjunction with the North Central RC&D, the Wayne Green Team and the Cities of Atkinson, O’Neill, and Wayne will be holding two Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. One event will be held at the Wayne Transfer Station on Friday, April 13th from 2pm to 4pm. The second event will be held at Carney Park in O’Neill on Saturday, April 14th from 8am to 10am.
Household quantities of the following items will be accepted: paint (latex and oil base), pesticides, herbicides, oil, cleaning chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, yard and garden chemicals, anti-freeze, car batteries, and mercury & mercury containing devices including compact fluorescent bulbs. The following items will NOT be accepted: tires, electronic equipment, appliances, PCB’s, picric acid, science lab materials, radioactive materials, or biological hazards. There will be a $10 per vehicle fee to assist with the cost of the collection. This event is funded in part by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.  After an emotional weekend at O'Neill Care & Rehabilitation Center, the local business community wrapped its arms around employees on Wednesday morning. O'Neill Chamber members were on hand delivering donuts and kind words of support to employees. On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services was alerted that Cottonwood Healthcare, the company that owns the O'Neill Care & Rehabilitation Center and 20 others, would be unable to pay its employees. Court documents were filed to place it into receivership. O'Neill Care & Rehab will, at this time, be overseen and managed by Klaasmeyer & Associates, a company owned and based out of Omaha.  The St. Mary's Quiz Bowl team competed at NVC Quiz Bowl in Keya Paha today.
The team came away from the day with a 1st place plaque. Finishing behind St. Mary's was Stuart in 2nd, Elgin in 3rd, and Clearwater in 4th.  An O'Neill nursing home is one of nearly two dozen in Nebraska now in a legal battle after failing to pay its employees.
The Omaha World-Herald reported that the Department of Health and Human Services were alerted Friday that Cottonwood Healthcare, the company that owns the O'Neill Care & Rehabilitation Center, would be unable to pay its employees. Matt Litt of the DHHS told the World-Herald that public health officials worked with the Attorney General’s office to set up a receivership and get it approved in court. Copies of the order signed by a Lancaster County judge were filed in 19 counties. Klaasmeyer & Associates has been appointed to manage the facilities while a long-term plan is worked out, according to the report. O'Neill Care & Rehab remains open and residents are still being cared for. A post on their Facebook page reads, "First of all, I want to thank you for entrusting us with the care of your family; we continue to be the same staff that has always taken care of, and loved your family members.. our focus will continue to be on our residents. We want to assure you the only thing that has changed is the payor source to our company. We will now be overseen and managed, at this time, by a company owned and based out of Omaha, Nebraska. The Medical director, CEO, DON, and all of our department managers are working hard with our staff and your loved ones to maintain a calm and care-enriched environment." It also said to direct any and all concerns to Ken Klassmeyer at 402-525-1251 and [email protected] or Linda Klassmeyer at 402-525-1225 and [email protected]. Other nearby facilities effected by this development include Norfolk, Neligh and Wausa.  Officials from the O’Neill Police Department, Holt County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Atkinson Police Department, Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, and the Holt County Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of several other agencies, conducted an anti-human trafficking operation on March 15 in O’Neill.
The operation led to the arrest of Robert Dean, 61 years old, of Valentine for solicitation of prostitution. Dosha Harris, 27 years old, of Lincoln was arrested on charges of pandering. The operation also led to the rescue of a female identified as a victim of human trafficking. For the protection of the trafficking victim, her identifying information will not be released.  COURTESY PHOTO O'Neill, Nebraska has released its St. Patrick's Day schedule for this year's celebrations. Full schedule below.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11 5pm: Mr. Irish Pageant at the O’Neill High School Gym, sponsored by the North Central Nebraska Expanding the Arts Group 2pm: Judging of the Window and Yard Decorating Contests, sponsored by the Irish Walk of Fame WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 5:30pm: Announcement of the Window and Yard Decorating Contests and Irish Walk of Fame Dedication Ceremony at 4th and Douglas + Painting of the World’s Largest Shamrock following the Dedication Ceremony + Free Will Donation Pork Feed Irish Walk of Fame Benefit at Chesterfields after the painting of the shamrock 9pm: Dave Merkel at Chesterfields sponsored by the Irish Walk of Fame THURSDAY, MARCH 15 9am: Duck Hunt Winners can start bringing in ducks for prizes – LIMIT OF 1 DUCK PER HOUSEHOLD 7pm: O’Neill Friends of the Library present “Paddywhack” at the O’Neill Community Center. Doors will open at 5:30. They will be serving Reuben Sandwiches with chips for a free will donation. Cash Bar hosted by the Knights of Columbus 9pm: Ben Grillet at Chesterfields FRIDAY, MARCH 16 10am: Chamber of Commerce Coffee at Pinnacle Bank 4:30pm: Fish Fry at the KC Hall, sponsored by the O’Neill Knights of Columbus 5pm to 7pm: Fun Run Packet Pick up at St. Mary’s High School, 300 N. 4th Street 5:30pm: Irish Olympics sponsored by the O’Neill Satellite Rotary Club at O’Neill Public High School Gym 7pm: Get the Horse Green at Emme’s Shop, 49186 Oliver Road, north of O’Neill 7:30pm: Tom Sadge as Neil Diamond, Celebrity Impersonator at the O’Neill Community Center, doors open at 5:30 with food by Uptown Cooking Creations. Cash Bar hosted by The Knights of Columbus 8pm: Paul Phillips on the Walk of Fame Stage at Chesterfields 9pm: Outback Band dance at The O’Neill Community Center + The Rude Band at the Hideaway + Black Water Band at Chesterfields SATURDAY, MARCH 17 8am to 9:30am: Shamrock Fun Run Registration at St. Mary’s High School, 300 N. 4th Street 9am: “Mass for the Solemnity of Saint Patrick of Ireland” at St. Patrick’s Church on the corner of 4th and Benton 9am to Noon: Post Office Station, St. Pat’s Cache at the Kinkaid Museum at 4th and Douglas 9am to 11am: Children’s Literature Festival featuring “Green Eggs and Ham” at the O’Neill Public Elementary School, 1700 North 4th Street 10am: Shamrock Fun Run starts at St. Mary’s School, 300 North 4th Street 11am: Shamrock Fun Run Awards Ceremony at the Golden Age Senior Center on South 4th 11am: Mulligan Stew Feed at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, 300 North 4th Street Noon: Irish Dancers on the World’s Largest Shamrock 12:30pm: Introduction of the Parade Grand Marshal and the Crowning of the St. Patrick’s Day King and Queen, Sponsored by the O’Neill Men’s Club 1pm: Grand Parade with the theme “Irish Olympics – Green is the New Gold” 1:30pm to 4pm: Danny Leger and The Irishmen at Chesterfields 2pm to 4pm: Kids Carnival at the ’38 Building at 4th and Adams, sponsored by the CLASS Group 3:30pm: The Sandman, Alan Sands—Comedian, Magician and Hypnotist, at O’Neill High School Gym, sponsored by The O’Neill Lions Club Alan is a family friendly performer out of San Francisco, CA. He has been in the business for most of his life (over 30 years). He will begin with a magic and comedy show at 3:30, then have an intermission in which we will do our live auction, followed by his hypnosis show. 4pm: The Rude Band Matinee at the Hideaway 4:30pm to 8:30pm: The 402 at Chesterfields 7pm: Healthy Choices 4 Holt County St. Patrick’s Day Youth Lock-In at Faith Community Church Youth Center for 5th through 8th grade kids. 9pm: The Rude Band at The Hideaway 9pm to 1am: The Back Forty at Chesterfields  COURTESY PHOTOS Later afternoon on Sunday February 11, the Holt County First Responders were dispatched to a location 19 miles north of O'Neill. Dispatchers were given reference to an unresponsive adult male.
George Holm, 58 of O'Neill, NE, was transported via ambulance to the Avera Saint Anthony's Hospital were he was declared deceased. Following investigations, the Holt County Sheriff's Department and the Holt County Attorney determined the cause of death was a snow sledding accident. Just before Holm's snow sled impacted a tree stump at high speed, he was able to protect a child who was also on the sled at the same time. The child suffered no physical injuries. |
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