Holt County Sheriff's Office Turmoil Still Hottest News Item In 2006
The first week of January 2006 started out with the conflict between the sheriff and the board of supervisors. Sheriff Theye was ruled in favor of in a contempt of court charge by county attorney Tom Herzog and heard by District Judge Patrick Rodgers of Norfolk. The sheriffs office filed a complaint a violation of the open meeting law and the sheriffs administrative assistant, MaryLou Cole filed an equal opportunity lawsuit against Holt County. L, other news counterfeit money was circulating around the town being reported at Fox's and some of the banks.
Not all news for the first week was bad as Ben Matchett filed for the office of Holt County Sheriff under the Republican ticket and Darlene Adams, chairman of Chambers State Bank presented the Chambers Rural Fire District with a check for $300,000 for a new fire hall.
On Monday, Jan. 9 the O'Neill school board meet and discussed the effects of class I schools merging with larger districts and the costs involved in the mergers. On Thursday, Jan. 5 the baby new year arrived to proud parents Charles and Tami Osborne and the little boy was named Nathaniel Dale Osborne.
In the third week of January word was received that Master Sargent David J. Ertz had been recommended for the Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device with the utmost enthusiasm.
On Jan. 23 school board members, teachers and parents attended an informational meeting concerning the Class I school consolidation with O'Neill District 7. Estimations at the cost of the consolidations were $692,838.
The first week of February saw the chamber of commerce hold their banquet with Gene and Jan Rezac being honored for their years of work in their store after retiring in June and Bill Petsche and Jeff Manoucheri were also honored for their retirement.
The second week of February saw the O'Neill City Council in debate over the garbage issue both sides put in a heated debate trying to figure out what they were going to do before an upcoming contract negotiation with Waste Connections. FEMA announced that federal disaster funds had been made available for Nebraska to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area hit by a severe winter storm last November.
The third week of February saw the county insurance premium go up $20,OOO from the previous year from a $300,00 claim from an employee. The Rotary club announced a Leprechaun Decorating Contest.
The first week of March saw the sheriff in the hot seat again. This time the supervisors accused Theye of letting deputy Gregg Meyer use a patrol car to commute to work and back from his residence 200 miles a away in Wilsonville.
High school age kids from O'Neill and Chambers were lauded for their help in loading hay for donation to victims of hurricane Katrina.
The tenth week of the year saw the town gearing up for St. Patrick's Day and the filing deadline for non-incumbents to register for the election. The city council approved a rate increase that occurs yearly by contract.
The March 16 issue of the Independent saw the Tompkins family and the Ken Hansen family from Inman left homeless after two separate fires devastated their houses.
The March 23 issue saw the St. Pat's celebration go on even though mother nature didn't cooperate dumping snow on the weekend of the event.
The first week of April saw the supervisors and MADD crack down on the sheriff. The supervisors passed two resolutions and dealt with the other issues regarding debit cards by canceling the sheriff's cards and the MADD lashed out against the sheriff in regards to enforcing underage drinking.
In the April, 13 issue of the paper the O'Neill School Board announced the hirin4 of a new elementary principal, Jennifer Widmen.
In the April 20 issue it was shown how the voters would be able to use the new electronic voting machines in the upcoming election. Road work began on Hwy. 20 from Newport 10 O'Neill.
The May, 4 issue saw the supervisors accuse the sheriff of using the county's car and gas in his election. Deputy Ed Lemburg was an given outstanding service award by the governor's office for his handling of a domestic violence case involving weapons.
The May 11 issue saw Ben Matchett take the primary election and for lack of a democratic opponent unofficially take the sheriffs race for the general election as well. Dean Sidak defeated incumbent Supervisor Ron Dexter.
The Atkinson Fire Department was honored for its part in a rescue during the Thanksgiving weekend blizzard.
The third week of May saw St. Mary's hire a new principal. Norman Hale was hired from Colorado.
The first week in June saw a claim that soil work would begin on the Holt County Ethanol plant site with soil samples being taken. Also this week the Spencer Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Spencer with the street being blocked off.
In the June S edition the NEDAK LLC board confirmed its plan to put up a storage facility across from the NAPA store in west O'Neill and the probability of putting in a rail- line back through O'Neill.
In the June 22 edition the supervisors refused to pay Greg g Meyer stating that he was removed from the active roster list of the Nebraska law Enforcement Officers effective April 30.
June 29 was the ground breaking for the NEDAK LLC group with the governor and other dignitaries presiding.
The first week of July the parishioners of St. Patrick's welcomed new priest Fr. Paul Hoesing.
The July 27 issue of the Independent saw County Attorney Tom Herzog cleared of charges filed by the sheriff in regards to handling of drug fund monies. Area fire departments started to see an increase in calls with several for each department in a week's time due to drought conditions and baler fires.
The Aug. 3 paper saw the ground breaking for the Midwest Ethanol facility six miles east of O'Neill with a large attendance even though temperatures soared into the triple digits.
The second week in August saw more fires for the O'Neill fire department and the Lynch and Spencer departments answering numerous calls again.
The third week in August saw patrons of O'Neill school district seven voicing views of their concern in the school districts proposal of exceeding the allowable growth rate of 4.128 by one percent. The Ashfall State Historical Park was designated as a National Natural Landmark.
The August 24 paper saw a new school year start and the city of O'Neill voting to reject all bids received for running the city owned transfer station and bids for city residence garbage collection. The supervisors announced the proposed budget for 2006-2007 at $8,460,000.
The next week saw the city of O'Neill covered in yellow ribbons for
the anticipated deployment of guard members.
The supervisors approved their final budget with taxpayers receiving valuations going up $104 million countywide and tax asking increasing the maximum allowable rate of .5%.
The sheriff was again on the top of the page in September with the county facing two new suits involving the sheriff and his office. One was filed by a former employee of the department and the other buy a
lawyer of the sheriff.
Towards the end of September politicians crept on to the pages of the paper and the radio and television. Faces such as Pete Ricketts, Adrian Smith, and Scott Kleeb were not uncommon in Holt County.
The first week of October saw candidates in forums and debates. One thing found in common among all candidates running for office was the need for a city administrator for the city of O'Neill.
The second week of October was scary as threats were called into area schools and a Holt County Sheriff's Deputy was arrested in connection with the threat of violence against schools in Holt and Rock counties. IvanYoung was arrested on Thursday, Oct. 5 in O'Neill by the state patrol.
Construction personnel for the NEDAK LLC ethanol plant began to move into the area to start work on the ethanol plant which is estimated to be in operation by January of 2008.
Marv Fritz took top headline of the Oct. 26 paper surprising residents by resigning his city council position two weeks before the general election.
Nov. 9 saw election results with some new changes in area offices. Marv Fritz was defeated in his quest for another term by Tim Schneider. The sheriff's election was sealed with the final votes coming in with 3,838 votes cast for Sheriff elect Ben Matchett. In the supervisor races Ken Osborne ~was defeated by Don Butterfield.
The later part of November saw St. Patrick's and St. Mary's launch a $1.35 million capital campaign for remodeling of the high school and the church.
As the end of the year approached there was controversy over a book in the OHS public library that had' parents concerned about the content and its availability to the students.