School continues despite COVID

HARTINGTON — There have been some challenges, but local students have been able to stay in school despite recent surges in COVID-19 cases.

The latest Northeast Nebraska Public Health Dept. report shows Cedar County reported four new cases of coronavirus Monday. Cedar County has had 56 cases of th virus since the pandemic started here in March.

One of those cases came from a student at Hartington-Newcastle High School. That diagnosis forced the cancellation of last week’s football game between HNS and Humphrey Lindsay Holy Family.

HNS Supt. A.J. Johnson said students who have been determined to be in close contact with the person are being quarantined.

Those students who are quarantining will be learning from home instead of attending classes in school, he said.

Johnson said the Tuesday night volleyball game and Parents’ Night activities were set to go on as scheduled. Current plans also call for a National Honor Society Induction ceremony planned for 7 p.m., Thursday, to go on as scheduled.

Johnson said the Health Department has advised the school, however, to cancel Friday night’s football game with West Holt.

“We are taking all precautions necessary to resume our schedule Friday, Sept. 18 against Plainview,” Johnson said.

Cedar Catholic High School administrators have had the unique challenge of trying to schedule Homecoming activities during a pandemic.

Due to the current directed health measures, Cedar Catholic High School will not be holding a Homecoming Parade or Homecoming Dance this Friday.

However, instead of postponing all Homecoming activities to a later date, this year’s senior class chose to include as many Homecoming activities as possible this week and postpone the Homecoming dance to Friday, Oct. 2.

The schedule for Friday’s Homecoming activities includes Class Competitions and a 2:15 p.m. Homecoming Pep Rally at the Hartington Community Complex.

Coronation will follow the pep rally at 3 p.m. If bad weather is a factor, these two events will be moved to the Msgr. Werner Activity Center, said Cedar Catholic Principal Chris Uttecht.

The football game will begin at 6:30 p.m. Several special events are planned during the game, including the introduction of Homecoming Royalty, the raffle for the new Ford F-150 pick-up truck and a performance by the Cedar Catholic Dance Team.

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