Nebraska

Village clerk of tiny Nebraska town resigns amid probe by state auditor's team • Nebraska Examiner

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2024

Village clerk of tiny Nebraska town resigns amid probe by state auditor's team • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — The village of Litchfield in central Nebraska “boasts a whopping 280 people,” according to its website, which goes on to say that the small-town atmosphere contributes to a high quality of life.

But a Nebraska State Auditor’s Office probe into village operations has disrupted the calm, revealing apparent misappropriation of public funds, inaccurate utility billings and lack of documentation.

State Auditor Mike Foley. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

An upshot was the resignation a week ago of the village clerk, whose “improper pecuniary benefits” were a focus of the report released Wednesday.

Auditor Mike Foley, when releasing results, zeroed in on fiduciary responsibilities despite the size of a municipality. He said that “for various reasons” proper financial controls can sometimes be “less vigorous” among smaller political subdivisions.

“But the consequences of such insufficient fiscal oversight may be just as devastating, if not more so, to those less-populous communities and their local taxpayers as to their larger counterparts,” Foley said in a media release.

Clerk and hair salon owner

A 21-page letter to the Litchfield village board detailed findings of the state auditor’s team, which looked into the village’s finances following complaints of alleged financial improprieties by the village clerk, identified in the report as Julie Miller.

Hired as clerk in November 2022, Miller was empowered with oversight and control over village financial and utility billing processes, including processing payroll payments for herself and other employees of the village.

The report said Miller also owns a hair salon next to the village office. She was hired initially to work 20 hours a week as clerk but was authorized two months later to begin working additional hours, which were recorded as “overtime” for which she received twice her regular $15-an-hour wage.

The audit team said that change was made after Miller said her clerk duties were taking more than the agreed upon 20 hours a week and causing her to lose wages at her salon business. To account for those lost wages, the village board voted to pay her twice the normal rate for time worked past 20 hours.

It was meant to be temporary until she had received training, according to the report. But, the auditors said she was still getting the overtime rate some eight months later, even after an assistant clerk was hired.

Miller reportedly received $18,524 in “overtime” pay in eight months. One check showed she was paid $525 for one hour of overtime, the report said, noting that she did not provide an explanation.

Though troubling, the problems found with the Village’s purchasing card could have been much worse, but they serve as a cautionary tale nonetheless.

– Mike Foley, Nebraska State Auditor

The team reported that Miller submitted conflicting timesheets, leaving the team unable to determine when she was working and if she was paid the correct amount.

For the period examined, the Litchfield municipality was unable to provide all timesheets or other documentation to support all hours “supposedly” worked by its employees, including Miller, the team said.

The village board did not appear to be approving payroll wages during its monthly meetings, the report said.

“Much of the blame for these problematic expenditures,” Foley said, “lies with the failure of the Village to implement proper payroll procedures.…”

Walmart purchase

The audit team also was critical of Miller’s $97.89 purchase at a Walmart on July 4, 2023, with a city purchasing card. The audit team was able to obtain, through a “receipt lookup” website, a listing of items purchased (including clothing, charcoal and a kiddie pool) that did not jibe with what she said she had bought.

According to the report, that situation pointed to apparent unauthorized expenditure of village funds for personal benefit. The audit team said the village lacked a written policy regarding purchasing cards.

“Though troubling, the problems found with the Village’s purchasing card could have been much worse, but they serve as a cautionary tale nonetheless,” Foley said.

The report noted additional deficiencies in village operations, including a lack of supporting documentation for other expenses, inaccurate utility customer billings, payment of late fees and failure to provide timely responses to the auditor’s requests for information.

A response by the Village Board, included in the audit letter, said that in addition to accepting Miller’s resignation, the governing board proposed to implement a host of changes that respond to the auditor team’s findings.

Those include a time clock to better track employee hours, a different review process for payroll, a more stringent oversight of purchasing cards and reimbursement of expenses and more.

Foley said he believes Litchfield can “right the ship,”

“I have no doubt that it can be done, much to the benefit of the municipality as a whole and the taxpayers who pay for its operations.…”

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Nebraska

68 students chosen as Nebraska Young Artist Award winners

Published

11 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

68 students chosen as Nebraska Young Artist Award winners

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 29th annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.

The awards recognize 11th-grade students from Nebraska for their talents in visual art, dance, music, theatre, and film and emerging media arts.

Sixty-eight students from more than 40 high schools across the state have been selected as award winners and will be invited to a day of activities on campus March 25.

“Our faculty always look forward to this event,” said Chris Watson, director of recruitment for the college and coordinator of the awards. “They love meeting enthusiastic young artists, working with them and celebrating their talent.”

Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 92 students. Hixson-Lied College faculty chose the winners.

Award winners were also asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.

Each student will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and created by a School of Art, Art History and Design student.

Following is a list of award winners by hometown, with their high school and specialty area(s).

Aurora:

Calvin Miller, Aurora, music

Beaver City:

Johnathan Eakin, Southern Valley, visual arts

Bellevue:

Mami Lloyd, Bellevue West, music

Bennington:

Liliana Martic, Bennington, music

Eagle:

Jorie Goings, Waverly, dance

Firth:

Petra Van Cleave, home school, music

Fremont:

Xavier Herre, Bergan Catholic, theatre

Fullerton:

Lylla Sabata, Fullerton, music

Gretna:

Lillian Bock, Gretna, music

Harvard:

Allee Jarzynka, Harvard, music

Hendley:

Lily Jordan, Southern Valley, visual arts

Hooper:

Leo Arellano, Logan View, visual arts
Ellsie Meier, Logan View, visual arts

Kearney:

Kruz Flamig, Kearney, visual arts
Isaac Hooton, Kearney, visual arts
Mariah Kaslon, Kearney, visual arts
Landen Tilley, Kearney, visual arts

Lincoln:

Alissa Brenning, Norris, dance
Kali Brewer, Lincoln Southeast, visual arts
Ava Engel, Lincoln Northeast, dance
Emalie Fischer, Lincoln North Star, dance
Adelyn Haden, Lincoln Standing Bear, dance and music
Audrey Haugen, Lincoln Southwest, theatre
Andrea Hu, Lincoln East, music
Logan Lambrecht, Lincoln Southwest, music and theatre
Mckinzey Lile, Lincoln North Star, dance
Hayley Marshall, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Riley Minster, Lincoln East, music
Joslyn Morgan, Lincoln Southeast, music
Ariadne Ottoson, home school, music
Megan Plander, Lincoln Lutheran, theatre
Lauren Ramey, LPS Arts and Humanities Focus Program, visual arts
Blake Semrad, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Emma Shaeffer, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Taylor Sharpe, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Hugh Skretta, Lincoln High, music
Samuel Sulzle, Lincoln Northwest, music
Brooks Xia, Lincoln East, music

Martell:

Reese Thomas, home school, music

Norfolk:

Noah Asbury, Norfolk, music
Emily Henkel, Norfolk, music; Nathan Kaiser, Norfolk, music
North Platte: Brett Pfeifer, North Platte, theatre

Omaha:

Asher Abuhl, Trinity Classical Academy, music
Adam Campagna, Omaha South, film and emerging media arts
Liam Cowherd Richardson, Creighton Preparatory, music
Regina Ho, Millard South, film and emerging media arts
Connor Holmstedt, Fort Calhoun, music
Kara Leininger, Duchesne Academy, music
Jayden Li, Millard North, music; Violet Little, Omaha Central, dance
Mrethi Magesh, Millard North, dance
Venkatesan Marichamy, Millard North, dance
Moyra Matthews, Duchesne Academy, dance and music
Jackson Mu, Millard North, music
Gauri Nair, Millard North, dance
Angela Qi, Millard North, music
Jackson Ramsey, Gretna East, music
Tara Richardson, Creighton Prep, music
Vandana Santhanam, Marian, music
Caroline Soderlin, Millard North, music
Akshara Venkatesan, Millard North, dance
Caleigh Walkenhorst, Millard West, music

Osmond:

Donovan Heiman, Osmond, theatre

Papillion:

Emelia Weaver, Papillion-La Vista, music

Pierce:

Spencer Sindt, Pierce, music

Randolph:

Brecken Shearer, Randolph, visual arts

York:

Allison Holmes, York, visual arts

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Nebraska

Nebraska completes sweep over Michigan State in 12-2 seven-inning win

Published

23 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska completes sweep over Michigan State in 12-2 seven-inning win

Nebraska baseball (10-5, 3-0) closed out its three-game series with Michigan State (3-11, 0-3) on Sunday afternoon. The Huskers completed the sweep over the Spartans, earning a 12-2 run-rule win in seven.

Nebraska shut down Michigan State early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first after the Spartans took a 1-0 lead. The Huskers scored 11 straight before surrendering another run. The team totaled 11 hits and held Michigan State to three. The Spartans also suffered five errors.

Nebraska struck three home runs on the day, two off the bat of Dylan Carey. He hit 3-for-4 for four RBIs after hitting multiple two-run home runs. Preston Freeman also blasted a two-run shot over the wall to finish 1-for-3.

Case Sanderson brought in three RBIs after batting 2-for-4 with a double. Drew Grego also finished 2-for-4, earning one RBI. Mac Moyer grabbed one RBI off a double. Jett Buck and Joshua Overbeek each delivered one hit.

Gavin Blachowicz (2-1) won at the mound and pitched all seven innings for the Huskers. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed three hits for two runs.

Nebraska remains at home for its next matchup, hosting North Dakota State on Wednesday night. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

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Nebraska

Cale Jacobsen scores 15 and No. 9 Nebraska beats Iowa 84-75 in overtime after blowing late lead

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Cale Jacobsen scores 15 and No. 9 Nebraska beats Iowa 84-75 in overtime after blowing late lead

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Cale Jacobsen came off the bench to score 13 of his 15 points after halftime and hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer in overtime, and ninth-ranked Nebraska matched its program record for wins in a season with an 84-75 victory over Iowa on Sunday.

Sam Hoiberg, who scored 15 points and had five steals on his senior day, hugged teammate Pryce Sandfort near halfcourt as time ran out and then heaved the ball high into the stands. He and his father, coach Fred Hoiberg, embraced and a short time later the rest of the Huskers came out of the tunnel to salute the sellout crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska (26-5, 15-5 Big Ten) led by 10 points with five minutes left in regulation but missed five of its next seven shots and a couple of late free throws to let the Hawkeyes back in it. Kael Combs scored Iowa’s last eight points of regulation, including a second-chance 3-pointer that tied it 70-all with 2.7 seconds left.

After Cooper Koch tied it at 75-all in overtime, Jacobsen made a 3 from the corner and the Huskers went on to score the final nine points. The Huskers beat Iowa (20-11, 10-10) for the first time in five meetings and split the season series.

Sandfort, who transferred from Iowa after last season, scored 15 points and Rienk Mast added 14 for the Huskers.

Combs and Koch had 18 points apiece for the Hawkeyes, who committed 19 turnovers.