We Support Neligh Named ACN Biggest Story Of 2015

A campaign asking for positivity transformed 2015, making it the biggest story of the year in Antelope County.

Readers were asked to vote for their biggest stories of the year, and coming in with the most votes was the We Support Neligh campaign, began by Neligh-Oakdale music teacher Nate Metschke. 

“I do think We Support Neligh made a difference,” Metschke said. “There were so many challenges we were facing, and I believe this helped turn our attention away from the challenges and focus on the positive things happening in town.”

In June, Metschke began his campaign to promote positivity in the community. He was surprised to not only be the top story of the year, but also that his campaign was successful.

“I’d love to see We Support Neligh continue. It wasn’t just a temporary campaign,” he said. “It’s a goal that citizens should strive for in their daily living with their actions and words because they really speak loud and clear about our community.”

A close second for top story of the year was Neligh-Oakdale’s one-act making it to state for the first time in school history. In December after putting on the performance of a lifetime, the Neligh-Oakdale one-act team clinched the district title in Stanton for a ticket to the state competition. 

“I’ve been doing this for 21 years now, and there are no words for how excited I was,” said director Tammy Marshall. “There was footage showing me jumping up and down screaming like a lunatic and fist bumping the air. It was probably the best moment of my coaching career.”

The third biggest story, according to readers, was the Neligh City Council recall attempt and the fight against the annexation. In March, Bomgaars announced an expansion and requested annexation into the City of Neligh. 

Two areas outside of Neligh were annexed in July and in October Neligh’s four city council members faced a recall election that failed.  All four City Council members were retained in office.

Coming in fourth was the opening of the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center. In March, the new jail opened its doors after several years of controversy over the county would pay for the multi-million dollar facility. 

It received rave reviews during public tours in February and opened the next month when the 911 Communication Center was moved to the new facility. 

The fifth-biggest story for the county was a tragic event, an alleged murder-suicide just north of the Pierce-Neligh Road. In late December, a pickup fire in a bean field was reported to authorities. 

While volunteer first responders worked to suppress the flames, the observed human remains in the cab of the pickup. The Nebraska State Patrol has said the investigation shows the incident is consistent with a murder-suicide.

Rounding out the top 10 stories of the year were the following:
6. The Dixon home in Clearwater was a total loss after a tree fell on it during a storm.
7. TransCanada withdraws its application for the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would go through Antelope County.
8. The Clearwater-Orchard Cyclones were state semifinalists in Class D1 football. 
9. Neligh, home of Blackburn Manufacturing, is named Flag Day Capital of Nebraska.
10. The City of Neligh receives Phase I funding for a downtown revitalization grant.