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May 13, 2020
LAUREL — Laurel City Council members met May 12 via a video/telephone conference.
The non-traditional meeting format was used pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-03 allowing governmental entities to meet electronically during the pandemic.
Earlier Monday, Gov. Pete Ricketts laid out guidelines for organized sports this summer. Council members were told the status of the swimming pool is still up in the air.
The governor has recommended pools not open before July 15. The deadline to learn more about organized sports is May 31.
May 13, 2020
LAUREL — The city hired three part-time workers for the summer, Brian Potts, Wilton Roberts and Dillan Wolfgram.
Monday’s meeting also included a public hearing for the project referred to as “Laurel Northwest, M-375(49) Logan Creek/870 Road FEMA project. Two bids included a bid from Detlefsen Construction for $261,057.41 and A&R Construction for $447,000.
Detlefsen Construction was awarded the bid. The project cost will be reimbursed by FEMA for a portion of the project. JEO is continuing to work on the Design Phase for the project. The construction phase will happen in the summer of 2021.
May 13, 2020
CONCORD — Seven local graduating seniors were recently awarded the Dixon County 4-H Council Scholarship for 2020. Those receiving scholarships were Hunter Borg, Allen; Makayla Forsberg, Laurel; Olivia Hrouda, Dakota City; Elizabeth Lipp, Laurel; Kalyn Martinson, Newcastle; Bailey McCoy, Ponca; and Dawson Samuelson, Wakefield.
May 13, 2020
WAYNE — Cedar County now has its sixth case of coronavirus. The new Cedar County patient is a male in his 40s.
The Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department reported Monday that three new positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed within the health district. As of Sunday evening, there have been 393 COVID-19 tests reported for people living in the NNPHD Health District of Cedar, Dixon, Thurston and Wayne counties. The results of these tests include 47 positive cases (Cedar - 6, Dixon - 22, Thurston - 16, and Wayne County - 3).
May 20, 2020
LAUREL — Laurel area veterans are hoping the Laurel City Cemetery will provide enough space so area residents can spread out to observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day services will be held May 25, 11 a.m. at the Laurel Cemetery. Master of ceremonies this year will be Shane Kinkaid. The singing of the National Anthem and God Bless America will be sung by all in attendance. Pastor Jim Splitt, United Presbyterian Church will have the prayer. Placing of the flowers in memory of the unknown soldier will be by the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary. Roll call of Deceased Veterans will be recited by Jim Lipp.
Several area communities, including Hartington and Concord have decided to cancel Memorial Day celebrations this year.
May 20, 2020
HARTINGTON — Cedar County’s all-mail election process has really increased voter turn-out here, Cedar County Clerk Dave Dowling said.
Dowling said 57 percent of Cedar County’s registered voters cast ballots in last week’s primary election, even though there were only two hotly contested local races. Prior to last week’s vote, Cedar County had averaged a 35 percent voter turn-out in the past 10 primary elections, Dowling said.
Belden led the county with a 70 percent voter turn-out. Belden has led the county in voter turn-out the last several years. Statewide, 40 percent of Nebraska’s registered voters turned out for the election. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen said that number was up because of an influx of early voting, encouraged this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
May 20, 2020
HARTINGTON — Cedar County District 2 Commissioner Craig Bartels overwhelmingly earned another term on the County Board Tuesday. Bartels defeated Republican challenger John Thelen 870- 158.
No one is seeking the seat as a Democrat, which means Bartels will earn another four-year term on the board in the November election. County Clerk Dave Dowling said Bartels will now retain his seat, unless someone files with his office as a write-in, and then garners more votes than him in the general election.
