The Antelope County News is a weekly newspaper and website located in Neligh, Nebraska, owned by Pitzer Digital, LLC. It was named the top weekly newspaper in Nebraska in 2018, winning the Loral Johnson Community Sweepstakes Award from the Nebraska Press Association. The publication also won 35 awards at the 2018 Better Newspaper Contest. The Antelope County News was launched in digital-only form on January 1, 2014, by publisher and owner Carrie Pitzer. On February 11, 2016, Pitzer Digital purchased The Orchard News from John and Lucy Ferguson, and transformed it into the first county-wide print publication in Antelope County as the Antelope County News/Orchard News. It immediately became the first color newspaper in Antelope County. The Orchard News began publishing in 1901 in the community of Orchard.
2018 Nebraska Press Association Loral Johnson Community Sweepstakes Award For Top Weekly Newspaper Division A Sweepstakes Winner First Place Awards Building Circulation: Carrie Pitzer on Connecting With Alumni Reader Interaction/Contest: Staff on Facebook Fun Small Ad: Samantha Cleveland on Stealth Broadband Signature Page: Samantha Cleveland on State Volleyball Creative Ad Writing: Samantha Cleveland on Sign of the Times Breaking News Photography: Carrie Pitzer on Squealing Use of Color Carrie Pitzer & Samantha Cleveland on Ribbon of Hope Special Section : Staff on Progress Edition Special Section : Staff on Senior Sections Single Feature Story: Carrie Pitzer on Look for Mein Rainbows In-depth Writing: Cadrien Livingston on Gone With the Wind Public Notice and Its Promotion: Carrie Pitzer Online Video: Carrie Pitzer on Volunteers Round Up 1,500 Pigs Online Coverage of Breaking News: Staff on Sydney Loofe Best Use of Social Media: Staff on Sydney Loofe 50 - Best Digital Ad Idea: Carrie Pitzer on Need for Speed Second Place Awards Best New Idea – News: Staff on Facebook Live for News Use of Color: Carrie Pitzer on Quinceanera Youth Coverage: Staff Online Video: Carrie Pitzer & Dylan Widger on AMH 65th Anniversary Online Coverage of Breaking News: Carrie Pitzer on Semi Overturns Best Digital Ad Idea: Carrie Pitzer on Click for a Tow Online Video: Carrie Pitzer on Uprooted Traveling Boutique Online Coverage of Breaking News: Carrie Pitzer on Fatal Accident Third Place Awards Single Classified Advertising Idea: Samantha Cleveland on Bus Driver Help Wanted Sports Feature Photo: Carrie Pitzer on Diaper Division Headline Writing: Carrie Pitzer Front Page: Carrie Pitzer 2017 Nebraska Press Association Division A Sweepstakes Third Place First Place Awards Online Coverage Of Breaking News: Staff on Tilden Manhunt. Best New Idea - News: Wade Pitzer and Logan Lawson on Player Profiles. Building Circulation: Carrie Pitzer on Orchard Alumni Association. Headline Writing: Carrie Pitzer. Reader Interaction/Contest: Staff on #BeKindNoExceptions and #PayItForward. Feature Series: Natalie Bruzon on Orchard’s “Small Town Success.” Online Video: Jaimie Schmitz on Elgin’s Wiggle Chairs. Second Place Awards Best New Idea - Ads/Marketing: Carrie Pitzer on online advertising codes with Neligh Chamber of Commerce Online Video: Staff on ACT video Use Of Computer Graphics-Produced In House: Samantha Cleveland on enrollment trends with feasibility study of Clearwater, Orchard and Ewing. Signature Page: Carrie Pitzer on Neligh-Oakdale’s perfect football season. Use of Color: Carrie Pitzer on Thiele Dairy. Third Place Awards Sports Writing: Logan Lawson on Matt & Angie Belitz family, “Home Plate Is Where The Heart Is.” Single Feature Story: Carrie Pitzer on Candice Moser and Becky Moser kidney transplant, “Gift Of Life.” Online Coverage Of Breaking News: Carrie Pitzer & Jaimie Schmitz on grain bin rescue north of Neligh. Front Page Design: Carrie Pitzer.
