The Holt County Independent

The Holt County Independent We are Holt County's oldest news source and O'Neill's oldest business covering county wide stories, events and sports. Hometown news from hometown folks.

The Holt County Independent was established in May 1892 with G.W. Lessenger and Judd Wood as editors and publishers. It was consolidated under the name of the "Beacon Light and Holt County Independent" on Feb. 1,1895. It was edited by Ham Kautzman until June 18, 1897 when it became the Holt County Independent under editorship of O.F. Biglin until Sept. 24, 1897. From then until March 24,1899 C.C.

McHugh was editor and publisher. Edwin S. Eves edited and published the paper from that time until he sold to George A. Miles of Ainsworth in January 1904. Eves had also published the Amelia Journal, Atkinson Graphic, Atkinson Plain Dealer, Ewing Advocate and Holt County Democrat. The fusion of the democrats and the populists took place in Holt County about this time and the Independent under Miles reflected this. Miles adhered to the principle of the populist and democratic parties but refused to be under obligation to anyone, upholding the good and condemning the bad wherever he saw it. The Independent continues in the Miles family today.

The O'Neill Fire Department was called to a structure fire in O'Neill late on Sunday, Oct.5. Around 10:30 p.m. a call wa...
10/06/2025

The O'Neill Fire Department was called to a structure fire in O'Neill late on Sunday, Oct.5. Around 10:30 p.m. a call was made to the Boyd Holt 911 Center of a house on Douglas Street on Fire with flames coming from the second story. O'Neill called for mutual aide from Atkinson to help with the blaze. After fighting the blaze for an hour Ewing and Chambers were called in to help as well. The residence was a 3 story structure of older construction and a challenge to fight. Crews were on scene until about 4 a.m. before heading back to quarters.
The fire was investigated by the Nebraska State Fire Marshall's Office.
The cause of the fire was electrical in nature. The Structure is a complete loss.

10/04/2025

Eichelberger takes punt return in for touch down eagles 33 pierce 21

10/04/2025

ONeill pulls ahead 27-21 over Pierce 8:18 4th

10/04/2025

Begging of 4th Pierce 21 ONeill 19

10/04/2025

Pierce scores. Pierce 21 ONeill 12

10/04/2025

Braxton Eichelberger scores for Eagles down by 2. 14-12 early 3rd

10/04/2025

Pierce leads Eagles 14-6 at half

10/04/2025

Eagles trail Pierce 7-6 with 3 minutes before half

Eagle Golfers Get New Personal Best Of Season
10/01/2025

Eagle Golfers Get New Personal Best Of Season

The OHS girls golf team attended the Valentine Invite Tuesday, Sept. 23. The team had a great day with lots of personal bests, including a personal best team score for the season. They had one girl place. PollyAnna Belmer golfed a 96 to place 3rd . Below are the full results from the day.

Address

117 N 4th Street
O'Neill, NE
68763

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(402) 336-1220

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Our Story

Current Publisher Terry Miles became the sole owner June 6, 2018 of the oldest continuous business in O'Neill — The Frontier and Holt County Independent.

The Holt County Independent was first published in 1888 in O'Neill making it 130 years old. In 1965 the only two remaining newspapers in O'Neill —The Frontier and Holt County Independent — merged.

The first Miles to own the newspaper was George A. Miles of Ainsworth. He purchased it in January 1904. George ran the newspaper until his death in 1937. His sons Gerald and Fay Miles took control of the paper and ran the newspaper until Fay's death in 1956.