A gas meter was struck by a vehicle Thursday night in Oakdale, leading to a gas leak in an alley near 6th and Wilson Streets, according to the Antelope County Sheriff's Department.

The Oakdale Fire Department assisted Black Hills Energy with the leak. The Sheriff's Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Neligh Rescue also were on scene. No injuries were reported.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available. 

A female was partially pinned beneath a vehicle and air lifted from the scene of a one-vehicle accident on Thursday night.

The Antelope County Sheriff’s Department said a 2004 Ford Focus four door bearing Massachusetts license plates was discovered in a field resting on its passenger side at 8:13 p.m. south of Highway 275 near the Ag Agronomy Center in Oakdale. 

According to officials, 40-year-old Angelia M. Brown of Neligh was partially pinned and required extrication by the Neligh-Oakdale Jaws of Life. She was transported by LifeNet to Mercy Medical in Sioux City, Iowa, from the scene. The other occupant, Christopher M. Lopez, 32 of Neligh, was transported by Neligh Rescue to Antelope Memorial Hospital. 

Both occupants were intoxicated and denied operating the vehicle at the time of the accident, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Officials said the Ford Focus was traveling west on Highway 275 when the driver lost control. An over correction caused the vehicle to go into a skid, striking the snowpacked south shoulder and causing the vehicle to enter into a roll, according to law enforcement.

The Antelope County Sheriff’s Department, Neligh Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, along with Oakdale Fire, Neligh Fire, Neligh-Oakdale Jaws of Life and Neligh Rescue responded to the scene.

The accident remains under investigation by the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Zia Moore, a 2017 graduate of Neligh-Oakdale, was one of two dozen students receiving their white coats recently from Northeast Community College's veterinary technology program in Norfolk.

Members of the class of 2019 received their veterinary technician’s pins. Members of the Class of 2020 were awarded a monogrammed white coat to mark their formal acceptance into the program.
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Dr. Mike Cooper, veterinary technology program director, opened the ceremony followed by comments from Lyle Kathol, vice president of educational services and Stacey Aldag, math instructor. Josh Schlote, veterinary technology instructor, administered the Vet Tech’s oath to the students. Veterinary Technician Instructor Dr. Amanda Hafer and Veterinary Technology Club President Terri Molt, Albion, also spoke at the event.

Kathol remarked on the significance of the ceremony for the students. 

“Life is all about first steps. You took a first step when you entered college. Shortly, you’ll take your first formal step toward your veterinary technician career by taking an oath to serve in a career field that will be challenging but also very rewarding and, as you may already know, definitely time consuming. This first step is a journey that will be the most fantastic journey you will ever take. The white coat you are donned with today indicates your acceptance of another level of responsibility and dedication. Wear it with pride and never forget this first step.”

Hafer detailed the many types of care veterinary technicians perform each day as part of their work.

“Those of you who have received your pins or your coats are working toward earning an associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology, a degree that strongly supports caring for animals, caring for their owners, caring about science and medicine, caring about food safety and caring about continuing education, so that you can be the best licensed veterinary technicians out in the field.”

Friends, family members and supporters of the students attended the ceremony.

Students who received their white coats at the ceremony included Morgan Bideaux, Lincoln; Sara Bulin, Bruning; Erika Burritt, Osceola; Kendra Cooper, Lincoln; Laurel Driver, Hartington; Ranger Gunville, Eagle Butte, SD; Justine Hartmann, Armour, SD; Hannah Hilger, Hartford, SD; Korey Huffman, Decatur; Mariah Jensen, Gresham; Josephine Jonas, Avon, SD; Marcus Kinney, Lincoln; Courtney Mangus, Fullerton; Annastasia McCracken, Cozad; Melissa McFarland, Norfolk; Nikole Mewhirter, Albion; Zia Moore, Oakdale; Melissa Mootz, Beatrice; Mina Murphy, Arlington; Dara Ness, Kennebec, SD; Alexa Roper, Lincoln; Mia Scott, Columbus; Clare Sidner, Lincoln; and Taylor Stephens, Lincoln.

These sophomore students were pinned at the ceremony: Kimberly Calderon, Wakefield; Gabrielle Dwinell, Winside; Rachel Eisenbruan, Rapid City, SD; Morgan Eisenhauer, Beemer; Megan Fink, Wausa; Samantha Glassmeyer, Laurel; Ashley Harlow, Norfolk; Caitlin Manzey, Watertown, SD; and Terri Molt, Albion.

The blacktop between Oakdale and Highway 14 is closed Saturday afternoon due to a gas leak about a mile west of town. The aroma of gas could be smelled a mile away from the leak.

Black Hills Energy employees are on scene, as are the Oakdale Fire Department, Neligh Rescue. Antelope Sheriff's Department and Nebraska State Patrol.

Officials said those living nearby are not in danger. 

Santa Claus paid a visit to the Oakdale village office on Sunday night. Besides hearing what each child wanted for Christmas, Santa handed out stuffed animals along with a goodie bag. 

The Lois Johnson Memorial Library in Oakdale will host an area author on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Author Nancy Summerer from Ewing will be at the library from 11 a.m. to noon to talk about her experiences and inspirations for her book, “Kasey’s Story,” a book about a 10-year-old boy who suffered with burns on 30 percent of his boys and spent three weeks in the burn unit.

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Twenty-six 4-Hers from Northeast Nebraska recently returned from the CWF (Citizenship Washington Focus) trip, including Trevin Hanson of Oakdale.

This is a capstone trip that youth attend during their high school career hosted at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, MD. During this experience, 4-Hers learned about citizenship and how they are a contributing member of society, as well as traveled to Washington, D.C. to see the U.S. government in action. In addition, the youth were able to learn about the past while visiting different sites. Some of these include traveling to New York City to visit the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Museum; traveling to Philadelphia to visit Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other important historical sites; and finally traveling to Gettysburg to tour the historic battlefield.
 
One of the learning experiences at the National 4-H Center was to develop an action plan for a service learning project. The youth have prepared plans to complete the project over the next couple of months. 
Here are the five steps used to implement a service learning project:

Learning about service learning, citizenship and leadership is inherent with 4-H activities. Youth might serve as an officer of a club to learn about parliamentary procedure, join a committee to plan out an event for the club, or be a part of the service learning project. For more information about 4-H and Youth Development, please contact the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension Office in your local county or visit the website at http://4h.unl.edu/.

It was a fun afternoon, especially with the kiddie tractor pull during the annual Antelope Days in Oakdale. Check out these photos!

Dozens of youth from the area were in Oakdale this afternoon to enjoy games, water slides, bouncy houses, snow cones and much more during Antelope Days. Click the link for lots of photos. 

Fireworks and fun activities are ahead at the Oakdale Antelope Days this weekend.

On Friday, Aug. 17, a free outside movie on Main Street will kick off the events for Family Night. The movie will begin at dark and a concession stand will be available. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets. A colorful fireworks show will follow the movie.

Saturday boasts a full list of activities for the whole family, beginning with a poker run. 

The poker run will begin with registration from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Oakdale Community Center. All vehicles are welcome to participate. The cost is $20 per hand and all proceeds go to the Oakdale Fire Department.

At 1 p.m., the space walk, kids games and jail and bail begin. The kids tractor pull, car show and horseshoe tournament will begin at 2 p.m., followed by the cornhole tournament at 3 p.m. A cake walk and freewill BBQ will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. A scavenger hunt is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. Oakdale's Antelope Days will conclude with a street dance from 9 p.m. to midnight with music by Nita and the Pipe Smokin' Charlies. A beer garden will be available from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the community center.