Hartington celebrates Q125 in style

HARTINGTON — Hartington’s four-day party to celebrate 125 years of history ended on a high note Monday.

The last remnants of the Hartington Q125 celebration filled the Skylon Ballroom for the closing ceremonies and a free BBQ on Memorial Day.
Dr. Roger Filips, President of the Chamber of Commerce, thanked all those who had come for the big celebration.

“Thank you for growing a beard, wearing silly outfits, and most of all, for showing up,” Filips said. “Hartington can throw a party when they have to. I declare the celebration a success.”
Q125 Chairman Jim Wintz, who has been involved in the planning stages for 18 months, now, said he did not know how the Q125 celebration could have come together without the use of some modern technology and the hundreds of volunteers who helped throughout the celebration.
“I don’t know what we would have done without computers, e-mail, cell phones, web pages and all of the twenty-first century developments we have,” said Wintz. “I don’t know how we would have done it with out the residents of Hartington – they have a spirit of giving.”
Wintz thanked Dan Kathol for being his right-hand man throughout the planning and the Quasquicentennial celebration. Filips then thanked both of them by handing out Presidential Citations to both, thanking them for an excellent job.
Lisa Dendinger, who chaired the first day of the celebration, said there were 13 wagons plus those who were riding horses on the wagon train that started toward Hartington on Friday morning.
“The wagon train was about two miles long,” Dendinger said.
There was a wonderful turnout at the style show over the noon hour and the day wound down with the steak fry contest, she said.
The rainy and windy weather caused problems for the steak fry and the Parade of Lights Friday., but people were determined not to let that deter them.

“We went at it like the pioneers before us – meet a problem and rise above it and pray,” said Howey.
She also added Adam Burbach, a Cedar Catholic High School senior, did an outstanding job in his first time announcing at the parade.
Jason and Kristen Dendinger were chairpersons for day two of the Q125.
Jason Dendinger reported there were 150 entries between the fun walk and the run on Saturday morning.
“Dan Kathol did a phenomenal job with the parade and people enjoyed the golf tournament,” he said.
A crowd estimated at 5,000 people turned out for the “Rediscover Our Past” parade and also the out house races that followed.
“Broadway Street was packed with people between JJ Benji’s and the Bank of Hartington for the Outhouse Races,” said Jason. “I was surprised there were so many people.”
The street dance bands, Small Town Fire and Go Figure, did a good job in spite of the weather, he said.
“First it rained, then there was a down-pour, then more rain and then we had wind,” Jason said. “But there was still a great turn out.”
Community tours were given on both of the first two days of the Q125.
Howey said a highlight of doing the tours for her was meeting all of the people who came back for the Q125.
“We could not have pulled this off without them,” she said.
There were approximately 300 people who stopped by the Historical Society Open House which was held on Friday and Saturday, according to Gloria Vogle
Chairperson Matt Jones, along with Pastor Bob Bryan who chaired the youth games, had a busy schedule for the third day of the Q125.
Sunday morning started off with church services and a Q125 Knights of Columbus breakfast was offered for old fashioned prices — $2.50 a plate.
The car show was well attended, the Kids Parade had 45 entries and there was a very large group who were there for the Ping-Pong ball drop.
“The mission of the day was for the youth to have fun,” said Jones.
Bryan said he was pleased to see the kids interacting with one another.

“These days it is normal for kids to be sitting at a computer, by themselves, with a video game – it was great seeing the kids out there having fun with one another,” said Bryan.
Jones also congratulated Gary Wieseler, St. Helena, for providing a wonderful fireworks display to close out Sunday’s events.
“We had an awesome fireworks which was a wonderful cap to a wonderful day,” added Wintz.

Mayor Bill Yates closed the ceremony with a few lines he said he borrowed from Gov. Dave Heineman’s speech at the opening ceremony of the Q125.
“The Governor said we don’t have any mountains or oceans – but we do have the greatest people – which is what our greatest asset is,” said an emotional Yates. “And what added to the beauty is the people who came back for this.”