<![CDATA[Boone County News

<![CDATA[Boone County News - ALBION]]>Thu, 27 Apr 2023 06:38:42 -0700EditMySite<![CDATA[Carquest To Open New Location In Albion]]>Fri, 21 Feb 2020 21:29:44 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/carquest-to-open-new-location-in-albion

With spring just around the corner, a new venture has sprouted beneath the sprinklers of Two Rivers Irrigation and Carquest of Neligh.

In mid- to late-April, owner Cody Frank will be opening a second location — Carquest of Albion, which will be managed by Turee Benson.

“Albion is a really progressive town and very similar to Neligh,” Frank said on Monday. “We know the demographics of Neligh and have done well here. Albion is similar, and the people shop locally. It’s been proven that if the facilities are there, people will shop local.”

Frank purchased Two Rivers Irrigation in 2008 and relocated it from Ewing to Neligh in the spring of 2017. He also acquired Carquest around the same time and opened a dual storefront on the east edge of Neligh along Highway 275.

Frank said his Albion location will only be for Carquest — not Two Rivers Irrigation — and will feature a similar storefront and daily delivery route to what is currently offered in Neligh. The 7,400-square foot building in Albion will be at 345 W. Church Street. Frank said he is seeking applicants immediately to fill two positions, possibly full-time.

“This is something we’ve talked about for a couple of years and got a little more serious about last fall,” Frank said. “We feel like we have the right guy to manage a new location. We have a lot of confidence in him and what he can do, and that’s been key in making the move now.”

Turee, who has worked at Carquest of Neligh since the spring of 2017, will help move into the new location at the end of March with plans to open the doors a couple of weeks later.
Frank said Carquest of Albion will not only offer vehicle parts and accessories, but it will also focus on the ag electrical market with parts, filters, custom hydraulic hoses, motors, cords, wires, brakes, pipe fittings, etc. With customer service at the forefront, the location will also offer free scanner diagnostics for customers.

“Carquest is one of the largest automotive parts dealers in the country,” Frank said. “They have a great inventory of parts with top quality. They are great to work with, so this is a great opportunity to take Carquest into a community like Albion and still be able to fully serve our customers in Neligh. We just see this as a great opportunity to grow as a business and help multiple communities.”

Also like the Neligh location, Frank said Carquest of Albion will feature daily delivery in a 20- to 30-mile radius of the store, including the communities of Petersburg, Newman Grove, Lindsay, St. Edward and Cedar Rapids.

]]><![CDATA[Albion Man Arrested For Attempted Murder]]>Wed, 02 Oct 2019 17:43:25 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/albion-man-arrested-for-attempted-murder

After shots were fired at an Albion resident on Monday, a 41-year-old man was arrested for attempted murder.

Charlie Melgoza, 41, of Albion, was taken into custody yesterday, according to the Albion Police Department.

On Sept. 30, at about 10 p.m., the Albion Police Department received a report of a shot being fired at a person in Albion. The reporting party was standing on the rear deck of his home when a known subject drove by the property multiple times.

As the subject drove by a second time, he fired a single shot from a handgun at the resident and drove away, according to the report. The resident was not injured.

The Albion Police Department requested assistance from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol. Officers were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle at a residence at 824 S. 11th St. in Albion.

According to the police report, Melgoza departed the residence at approximately 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. Officers then conducted a traffic stop and arrested the suspect without incident.

Melgoza was incarcerated at the Boone County Jail for attempted murder, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and making terroristic threats. His bond was set at $500,000. He has been transported to the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center, where he is now being housed.

]]><![CDATA[Petschke Resigns From Northeast Board Of Governors]]>Thu, 16 Aug 2018 17:24:11 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/petschke-resigns-from-northeast-board-of-governors

A longtime member of the Northeast Community College Board of Governors is stepping down from her seat. Shirley Petsche, of Petersburg, submitted her letter of resignation during the board’s monthly meeting Wednesday in Norfolk.

In her letter, Petsche cited family obligations for leaving the board. She said she is proud of her association with the College.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time as a board member and wish you all the best as the College continues to focus on the success of students and the region we serve. I will miss everyone, but I take with me that I have been part of the history of workforce training success in Northeast Nebraska through Northeast Community College.”

Petsche has served on the Northeast Community College Board of Governors, representing District I of Antelope, Garfield, Pierce, Wayne and Wheeler counties in their entirety and portions of Boone, Cedar, and Madison counties, since she was appointed in 2010. She was elected to the position in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. Petsche has chaired a number of board committees and served as board chairperson in 2016. She was board vice-chairperson in in 2015 and secretary in 2014.

Petsche has also served as one of two representatives from Northeast on the Nebraska Community College Association (NCCA) Board of Directors.

Dr. Michael Chipps, Northeast president, said he has valued Petsche’s contributions to the board.

"I am grateful for the support that Shirley has provided Northeast Community College over the years. With her experience working in economic development she understands the mission of a community college of providing the services and training necessary in sustaining this region’s workforce. Her leadership and insight as a member of our board has been invaluable," Chipps said.

Petsche is a former licensed practical nurse who received her education at the Lincoln School of Nursing. She has served as director of the Boone County Health Center Foundation, director of the Boone County Development Agency and as a consultant for an economic development organization in Nance County.

Her resignation is effective upon the appointment of her successor.

]]><![CDATA[Best Of The Best On Display At Albion This Week]]>Fri, 27 Jul 2018 18:37:52 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/best-of-the-best-on-display-at-albion-this-week

]]><![CDATA[School Board Adopts Motion To Purchase Masonic Lodge]]>Fri, 20 Jul 2018 15:37:42 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/school-board-adopts-motion-to-purchase-masonic-lodge

The Albion Masonic Lodge may possibly be purchased by Boone Central Schools after the school board adopted a motion for possible purchase on Monday night.

The Albion Lodge #78 is closing it's doors in the near future. According to the motion by the school board, the amount of the purchase is capped at $100,000.

]]><![CDATA[Livestock Building Construction To Be On Nov. Ballot]]>Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:04:25 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/livestock-building-construction-to-be-on-nov-ballot

Voters in Boone County will have a chance to vote in November on the new livestock building proposed for the fairgrounds.

Boone County Commissioners decided on Monday that a bond election on the fate of the building will be held alongside Nov. 6's general election.

The project received six bids from multiple companies, including low bids of $2,9996,035 from Rathman Manning Corp. of Chapman, NE and $2,997,300 from Bierman Contracting, Inc. of Columbus, NE. The proposal from Rathman included 455 construction days, while the Bierman bid included 325 construction days.

The fair boar hopes that the new building would provide more education opportunities to youth and their families.

]]><![CDATA[Perfect Attendance: 51 Years Of Rodeo Action]]>Fri, 29 Jun 2018 13:35:36 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/perfect-attendance-51-years-of-rodeo-action

Maurice Palmer hasn’t missed a Clearwater Rodeo since it started 51 years ago.

Palmer, who celebrated his 100th birthday in March, attended the 51st annual Clearwater Rodeo this weekend with his granddaughter, Alison, and her family.

However, he has been going to rodeos even longer than that.

Before the Clearwater Rodeo, Palmer went to the Burwell Rodeo with his family and said he has attended rodeos for about 62 years.

“I can’t tell you just when we started, but my oldest boy is 65, and we probably took him when he was 3 years old,” he said. “So, we’ve been going for a long time.”

Palmer used to take his late wife, Marjorie, and three children, Mark, Tracy and Renee, to the rodeo. As the family grew, he took his three grandchildren, Alison, Ryan and Whit, and now he brings his great-grandchildren. Palmer has eight great-grandchildren: William, Connor, Amelia, Madiline, Lucas, Sarbestian, Kane and Sloan.

When the Clearwater Rodeo started in 1967, Palmer, who resides near Albion, said they decided to go to it instead of Burwell since it wasn’t as far away.

“We had been interested in rodeos, and we had gone to Burwell. So, the Clearwater Rodeo is closer, and we kept going to that,” he said.

Not only has he been to the same rodeo every year, but he has also sat in the same location, the top of the south side bleachers. According to Palmer, he sits there so he can get more air on hot days and it keeps him from facing the sun. It’s also close to the handicapped parking area.

Although, on Saturday night, he said he decided to switch things up so he could watch his great-grandchildren as they hung out by the fence.

“Saturday night, we were on the fourth row because my great-grandchildren were sitting down on the fence line, so we wanted to be close to them,” he said.

On Friday, the rodeo announcer described Palmer’s apparel and pointed him out in the crowd for his dedicated attendance at the Clearwater Rodeo.

“It was a great honor. I had no idea I was going to be honored,” he said. “I felt good, it made me feel real good. There was a lot of shaking hands and people were very polite.”

Since his first time there, Palmer said he has appreciated the enthusiasm of people who attend, as well as the set-up of activities.

“In my first experience, it was such a well-run rodeo, it seemed to have all of the facilities that it required for a good rodeo,” he said. “The people were great and very friendly. It was very interesting and there were large crowds.”

Over the years, Palmer said the events have remained mostly the same, but its facilities and number of contestants have improved.

He said people in the audience are “very attentive and they show a great interest in the events.”

While the crowd is great, what Palmer said he really enjoys is watching the horses and roping events. This interest goes back to when he rode horses with his family.

“In my days, in our horse shows, we did a lot of barrel racing and had a lot of family events. I had all of my family on horseback and we rode in a family class,” he said.

On his farm, 7 Hills Ranch, which he started in 1974, Palmer raised quarter horses for horse shows. He also has a team of draft horses that he said he shows in the Albion Boone County Fair Parade.

“I bred and raised quarter horses; I trained them. I put my entire family in the saddle and we showed quarter horses around the area – family style – my wife and my three children,” he said. “We raised cattle also. It’s been a family operation from the beginning and still is a family operation.”

Palmer was born and raised in Fairfield in Clay County and then went to college in Chicago at Northern Illinois College of Optometry, where he studied and entered the field of optometry.

From there, he started Eye Associates, which is now called Eye Physicians, in Albion in 1949 and worked part time in Neligh’s location. He is now retired, but his business remains in the family and was passed down to his son and now granddaughter.

“I operated it in ‘49. My son, Mark, took over in ‘94 and Alison took over in 2016. So, it’s a three-generation office,” he said.

While he has retired from Eye Physicians, his work on the farm hasn’t ended.

At 100 years old, Palmer continues to go strong in helping Mark with the farm’s cattle and pasture ground.

“I help my son with calving. We have about 100 head of cows to calve and I was up every morning this spring helping to calve,” he said. “We began in February and it was kind of cold and stormy then, but I was up every morning helping.”

When he’s not working, Palmer said he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including taking them to the rodeo.

In this year’s rodeo, there wasn’t anyone who he was especially rooting for, but he said he knew two of the people participating.

Palmer also said he was pleased with the Clearwater Rodeo Queen crowning of Macy Zentner on Friday, as her family is close to where he lives in Albion.

“Cedar Rapids is just 6 miles from here,” he said. “I felt good about it; it’s a good family. And, her brother is a race fan. He puts cars on our race track every Friday night.”

With steer wrestling, barrel races, rodeo queen announcements and many other activities, his time at all 51 of the Clearwater Rodeos has made for an interesting experience, he said.

“It’s a complete rodeo,” Palmer said. “They have everything necessary, and they have the manpower to put it on.”

]]><![CDATA[Albion Natives Win At SkillsUSA Competition]]>Mon, 21 May 2018 18:07:47 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/albion-natives-win-at-skillsusa-competition

Albion natives Macy Olson and Austin Zoucha both earned awards at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference held recently at the Heartland Events Center and Fonner Park in Grand Island.

Olson placed third in the Architectural Drafting competition, while Zoucha won the Sheet Metal category. Zoucha will go on to compete for the SkillsUSA National Championships in June.

In the competition, students in skilled and technical education science contests work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. The philosophy of the championships is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers' needs.

More than 1,500 students competed in the event.

Northeast took the top three positions in the Architectural Drafting competition. Marco Moreno, South Sioux City, was named 2018 Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion while Tanner Stelling, Milford, placed second, and Macy Olson, Albion, was third.

Northeast also swept the medal categories in the Internetworking competition. Jesse Wiseman, Hubbard, earned 2018 Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion honors, while Andres Bustamante, Burwell, and Kelsi Havlovic, Norfolk, took second and third, respectively.

In Electrical Construction Wiring, Trevor Pecena, Wayne, was named the 2018 Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion while Drew Eskins, Crofton, was second.

Northeast students also placed highly in the Industrial Motor Control competition. Dylan Eisenmann, Madison, earned the 2018 Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion title, while Gene Kumm, Osmond, had a second-place finish.

In the Sheet Metal category, Austin Zoucha, Albion, was named 2018 Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion, while Jordan Soby, Blair, took second.

Northeast students earned 2018 Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion titles in a number of other categories. They include the team of Noah Wilcox, Norfolk, and Landen Scheffler, Madison, in Audio/Radio Production; Dylan Barg, Norfolk, in Automotive Refinishing; Joseph Stellato, Norfolk, in Automotive Service Technology; the team of Dustin Van Zee, Sioux Falls, SD, Henry Hagge, Bloomfield, Kaylee Dankert, Pierce, and Dustyn Stortzum, Silver Creek, in Broadcast News Production; Patrick Kosmacek, Stanton, in Computer Programming; Francisco Nuno, Wakefield, in Information Technology Services; the team of Kody Salak, Columbus, and Kyle Lentz, Hartington, in Mobile Robotics Technology; and Calvin Craig, Norfolk, and Kody Greenwood, North Bend, in Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue.

Several Northeast students took bronze and silver medals in other competitions. Matt Lewis, Bellwood, took silver in Carpentry, while Michael Zavala-Taylor, Lyons, was third in Collision Repair Technology. John Meis, Elgin, took third place in Diesel Equipment Technology; Caleb Storjohn, Seward, second in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC); and Bryce Coble, Onawa, IA, earned second in the Masonry competition.

In addition, Tanner Knight, Ord, received a $500 SkillsUSA Nebraska Scholarship Award, sponsored by the Nebraska Trucking Association for his 12th place finish in the Diesel Technology competition.

Twenty Northeast instructors - Tony Hoffman (electrical), Paul Bailey and John Nelson (HVAC), John Knapp and Michael McCarthy (welding), Ryan Hobza and Curtis Brandt (building construction), Tony Milenkovich (diesel), Bowdie Otte (automotive service technology), Brian Anderson (broadcasting), Lynnette Frey and Michael Holcomb (drafting), Dave Beaudette and Tom Hoile (auto body), Jay Pease (plumbing), Richard Chrisman and Brad Vogt (information technology), Phil Shimonitz (graphic design), Steve Wagner (diversified manufacturing) and John Liewer (wind energy) attended the competition as advisors.

As state champions, Barg, Craig, Dankert, Eisenmann, Greenwood, Hagge, Kosmacek, Lentz, Moreno, Nuno, Pecena, Salak, Scheffler, Stellato, Stortzum, Van Zee, Wilcox, Wiseman and Zoucha have qualified for the SkillsUSA National Championships, in Louisville, KY, June 25-29. More than 16,000 people, including students, teachers and business partners are expected to participate in the weeklong event.

]]><![CDATA[Olympian Curt Tomasevicz Is Coming To Albion]]>Wed, 16 May 2018 14:20:19 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/olympian-curt-tomasevicz-is-coming-to-albion

Former Husker player and Olympic bobsledder Curt Tomasevicz is coming to Albion on June 6.

Tomasevicz will be speaking at the Boone County Emerging Leaders event at the Cardinal Inn. Drinks and networking will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Tomasevicz's "Have No Fear" speech to follow at 7:15 p.m.

Curt will be available for pictures and autographs afterwards.

]]><![CDATA[Sandman Of Albion Inducted Into PTK]]>Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:37:47 GMThttps://www.mybooneconews.com/albion/sandman-of-albion-inducted-into-ptk

A Boone County native was welcomed into Northeast Community College’s international honor society in a special ceremony recently.

Staci Sandman of Albion was one 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.

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