Year in Review: Casey, Rath reach career milestones as Bear athletes
Jan. 4, 2023
BELDEN – Across the nation, workforce shortages are prompting businesses to adapt and consider doing business differently. Rural churches are no different. “Everybody’s hiring. That’s the situation with churches, too. We just can’t keep up, ” said Charity Potter, pastor for Unity Presbyterian Parish with locations in Belden, Laurel, Wakefield and Thurston. That’s what prompted Belden and Laurel to join Unity Presbyterian, she said. At that time, Belden and Laurel had been without a pastor for about a year but attendance was still strong enough it didn’t warrant the church to close. All four churches “put their heads together” and decided to try joining together under one parish.
Potter and David Fritz of Laurel rotate leading worship at Laurel, Thurston and Wakefield each weekend.
Jan. 11, 2023
COLERIDGE — Bob Hansen could call himself a professional volunteer.
In the past nine years, the Coleridge man has racked up more than 1,100 hours of volunteer work to help protect the area’s natural resources. All of his efforts in conservation work lead to his nomination and then receipt of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Conservation Award. “I had no idea they were doing it and was just flabbergasted when I got the call,” Hansen said. The award was announced at an October conference of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project in Chadron.
Hansen couldn’t make the conference so the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) set up videoconferencing so he could attend remotely.
Jan. 11, 2023
HARTINGTON — The Cedar County Board of Commissioners welcomed a new member on Jan.10.
Dick Donner replaced Chris Tramp for the position that represents District 1, which covers the northern and western portions of the county. Donner previously served two terms as a commissioner from 1999 to 2007. During the commissioners’ first meeting of the year, they selected Dave McGregor as the board chairman and Craig Bartels as the vice chairman for 2023. Mc-Gregor is starting his fifth term.
DEATHS
Janice J. Kamrath, 82, Laurel died Jan. 8, 2023 at Providence Medical Center, Wayne.
Marguerite Stage, 93, Laurel died Jan. 7, 2023 at Hillcrest Care Center Jan. 11, 2023
CONCORD — For anyone wondering where the future building contractors are, they don’t have to look far.
Some of them were recently found in Concord as Pat Harrington’s Construction Trades class at LCC designed and built a garden shed for Concord resident Carolyn Alt. The project gave real world experience in what it takes to build a building, providing on the job training while completing educational requirements. Work began in the spring of 2022 but was limited to the design and framing for the concrete foundation before weather halted the work. The fall semester brought a new crew with two returning students. Fall weather cooperated and the shed was completed in mid-November.
Jan. 18, 2023
LAUREL – The Laurel City Council has approved new electrical rates for 2023. Council members approved the third and final reading of an ordinance on Jan. 9 regarding the new electrical rates. City Administrator Mark McCoy noted the cost per month for the “typical residential customer” in Laurel will go up by an average of $3.51.“The overall change in rates is approximately 4 percent,” he said of residential and commercial customers.
Jan. 18, 2023
LAUREL — Upcoming staff changes has led to the restructuring of several positions in the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge school district. At its last meeting on Jan. 9, LCC’s school board approved splitting off the activities director role from the duties of high school principal and combining activities with transportation director to create a new full-time position. Ken Swanson, LCC high school principal, has been serving in the dual role, and has submitted his resignation effective at the end of the academic year. District leadership and the board have been discussing the benefits of restructuring the activities director role for about a year, said Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen. “Primarily, there will be a positive impact on the dedicated time available for the high school principal to devote to instructional leadership, curriculum development, as well as student and teacher interaction and relationship building,” Christiansen said. Combining activities and transportation into one full-time role on its own is a natural fit, he said. “There are many common and related functions between the two roles,” Christiansen said. “The school district anticipates a more streamlined and efficient approach to transportation management when aligned closely with the activities program.”
Jan. 18, 2023
LAUREL — Dillon Olson, Laurel, recently received the award for All Academic Player of the year for the state of Nebraska. This year, the Nebraska American Legion selected Dillon Olson, Concord, as the state player of the year. Olson plays for the Pender Post 55 Legion Senior team. With winning the Nebraska award, it then put him in a pool for the running of the Midwest award and was recognized as one of nine chosen nationally.
Jan. 18, 2023
WISNER — The LCC speech team traveled to Wisner-Pilger Jan. 14 for a Practice Speech Meet.
Izabella Kock earned Runner Up honors in Serious Prose and took fourth place in Poetry. Maddy Graham took third place honors in Serious Prose. Sarah Karnes earned seventh place in Humorous Prose, and fourth place in Impromptu, while Jackson Hall earned fourth place in Extemporaneous. Delaney Johnson took sixth place in Persuasive. Ella Hartung, Sarah Karnes, Kolten Settje, Delaney Hall, and Madalynn Graham brought home Runner Up honors in OID.
Overall, LCC finished fourth as a team.
Jan. 25, 2023
HARTINGTON — The case against a Laurel couple charged with murder progressed in Cedar County District Court here Monday. Carrie Jones, 43, appeared with her court-appointed attorney, Doug Stratton, Norfolk, while her husband, Jason A. Jones, did not appear but his lawyer, Todd Lancaster, Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, filed documents on his behalf.
Both of the Joneses are being charged with murder and other charges related to the Aug. 4, 2022, deaths of Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford, Dana Twiford and Michele Shankles-Ebeling in Laurel. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Jason Jones.
Jan. 25, 2023
LAUREL — Laurel community leaders wanted to make sure area farmers know just how important they are to the local economy. To help get that message out, on Sunday the Laurel Community Chamber, LCC FFA, LCC FFA Alumni, and LCC School hosted the inaugural Laurel Area Agribusiness Appreciation banquet. “The banquet was a chance to celebrate the Laurel Chamber Community Club, businesses, and people that make Laurel a thriving community,” said chamber member Alissa Baier. “It also highlighted our town’s promising future with many accomplished FFA youth in attendance.”
Jan. 25, 2023
LAUREL — January is National Mentoring Month, and that is important to the LCC school district.
For more than 20 years, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School has been offering a mentoring opportunity for their students, with the help of community members from Laurel, Concord, Coleridge, Belden, Hartington, Wayne and Dixon.
Jan. 25, 2023
ALLEN — The Lewis and Clark Honor Band was held Jan. 21.
The day started with auditions for chair placements. All students receiving first and second chairs received conference medals. The following band students from Laurel-Concord-Coleridge participated in the 9-10 Band: Jayden Campbell, first clarinet; Emma Sohler, bass clarinet; Seth Cross, first alto saxophone; Kolten Settje, tenor saxophone; Edgar Marin, tuba; Craig Karnes, mallet percussion; and Derek Nelson, batter percussion.
The following band members participated in the 11-12 Band: Izabella Kock, first flute; Andrea Schilousky, first flute; Gabriella Kock, first trumpet; and Max Swanson, auxiliary percussion.
Feb. 1, 2023
HARTINGTON – The Cedar County Board of Commissioners received an information-filled annual update on Jan. 24 from local Nebraska Extension staff members. Cedar County Extension Lead Educator Jackie Steffen, Extension Educator Ben Beckman and Engagement Zone Coordinator Amy Topp presented to the board members during their meeting. The packet of information they provided to the commissioners included a summary of Cedar County Extension’s 2021-22 budget expenditures, the 2022-23 fiscal year budget and a county impact report.
Feb. 1, 2023
LAUREL – An area family has been selected for the Laurel Area Farm Family of the Year Award for its leadership in the agricultural community. J. Miller Farms recently was presented with the award at the Laurel Area Agribusiness Appreciation Banquet, sponsored by the Laurel Chamber Community Club. “We are excited to present the inaugural Laurel Area Farm Family of the Year Award,” said Jeremy Christiansen, chamber treasurer. “This award serves as an important opportunity to recognize and honor farm families throughout the Laurel, Nebraska, area for their contributions to the agriculture industry and our local economies.”
Feb. 1, 2023
LAUREL – Kolby Casey just notched two more big milestones as he nears the end of his high school wrestling career. Casey pinned in his 100th career win. He also earned the Lewis and Clark Conference title at 220 pounds.
Feb. 1, 2023
NORFOLK – LCC FFA students participated in District Livestock Judging in Norfolk last week and came out with some impressive honors.
The students judged eight classes of livestock, gave multiple sets of reasons and took an exam as part of the contest. Both of the senior and junior teams are statebound with a first place and a third place finish, respectively.
Top finishers included: Senior team – Second individual: Samantha Pehrson.
Fourth individual: Madalynn Graham.
Junior team – Fourth individual: Connor Korth.
Feb. 8, 2023
LAUREL – Changes may be on the menu at a local eatery as its owners grapple with changes to Nebraska’s minimum wage. Effective last month, the minimum wage across the state jumped from $9 to $10.50 per hour and will continue to increase incrementally each January over the next three years. In 2024, minimum wage will be set at $12 per hour,$13.50 in 2025 and $15 per hour by 2026.Prior to this year, the minimum wage had not been increased since 2014 when it increased from $7.25 to $9 per hour.
Those changes have left small-town business owner Scott Taylor fumbling and frustrated, unsure of how he will keep one of his local businesses, The Scoop, afloat. The Scoop is a fast-food restaurant specializing in custom ice cream creations, burgers and broasted chicken. “High school kids absolutely they cannot wait” to see that extra hike in their paycheck, Taylor said. But they don’t understand the toll it takes on the small-town business already feeling the pinch with an exponential rise in food costs. Most likely, menu prices will increase which could in turn deter customers and eventually force the business to close.
Feb. 8, 2023
LAUREL — Picture this. The date is Jan. 8, 1956. It’s not the typical windy winter Sunday in Nebraska. No, today the sky is clear and the gentle breeze is perfect. The sunbeams shine brightly down on Concordia Lutheran Church. Wedding bells are ready to ring for the soon-to-be married Jim and Doris Nelson. The bridal party is composed of close friends and family of the couple. The bridesmaids wearing turquoise dresses are Doris’s sister, Phyllis Salmon, and sisters-in-law Susie Johnson and Donna Stalling. The groomsmen, Marlen “Freck” Johnson, Harlen Anderson, and Fritz Kraemer are looking pretty strapping in their Sunday best. Youngsters Linda Erwin and Lynette Johnson are flower girls and Brent Johnson is the ring bearer.
The heartfelt vows of “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live” are spoken.
Rings are exchanged, a kiss is shared, and the new Mr. and Mrs. James Nelson are officially, official. When the ceremony concludes, the couple is celebrated with a cake reception. It has truly been a simply beautiful, wonderfully simple day. Fast forward 67 years. It is now 2023. Jim and Doris have lived a lot of life since that simply beautiful and wonderfully simple day.
Feb. 8, 2023
OMAHA — Jasmine Galvin, Laurel, was named to the University of Nebraska Medical Center fall 2022 dean’s list for students enrolled in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and the allied health professions.
Feb. 8, 2023
LINCOLN — A pair of Laurel area students were among the more than 6,900 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students to be named to the Deans’ List for the fall semester of the 202223 academic year.
Coleridge: Jersey Jansen, sophomore, Dean’s List, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, agribusiness. Laurel: Brianna Campbell, sophomore, Dean’s List, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, agribusiness.
DEATHS
LAUREL — Lloyd L. Luedtke, 82, Laurel, died Feb. 4, 2023, at Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel.
Feb. 8, 2023
LAUREL – The Quad County Northeast wrestling team finished the regular season last week on a high note. The Blaze wrapped up the regular season at Dakota Valley, S.D. Thursday as they split matches with the hosts and Creighton in a triangular. One local wrestler, also reached a big milestone at the meet. Kolby Casey, who earned his 100th career win last season, earned his 100th career pin at Dakota Valley.
Feb. 8, 2023
WAYNE – The Wayne State College Honor Choir was held Feb. 3. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge students Emma Sohler (sophomore), Danica Gould, Holly Patefield (both freshman), and Izzy Kock (senior) all made the WSC Treble Choir. The choir was conducted by Lyn Bouma with a concert in the Ley Theatre. In December, students recorded themselves and sent the auditions to WSC, where students, if selected, were placed into one of the choirs. The four girls spent the day rehearsing with other students from Iowa and Nebraska on February 3. They presented a concert in Ley Theater. This is Emma Sohler’s second year. This is Danica, Holly, and Izzy’s first year.
Feb. 8, 2023
STANTON — The Stanton Junior High Honor Festival was held Feb. 4.
Five Laurel-Concord-Coleridge junior high band members participated in the Honor Band: Avery Stone - flute; Madyson Campbell – alto saxophone; Jolynn Kinkaid – batter percussion; Faith Galvin – oboe, and Alyza Leonard – mallet percussion. The Honor Band clinician was D.J. Smith and the program included: “Above and Beyond” by James Swearingen; “El Relicario” arranged by Michael Story; “Furioso” by Robert W. Smith; and “From Now On” (from the Greatest Showman) arranged by Paul Murtha.
The honor festival also included an Honor Choir and a Percussion Ensemble.
Feb. 8, 2023
WAYNE — A trio of Laurel-Concord-Coleridge students have advanced to state competition. The following girls attended and competed in the District 7 FCCLA Star Competition on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Wayne State College. Emma Sohler competed in Fashion Construction and received a Gold medal for her prom dress and presentation. Skylar Swanson competed in Focus on Children and received a Top Gold for her presentation. Kennedy Hall competed in Event Management and received a Silver medal for her presentation. All three girls will be competing at the FCCLA State Convention in Lincoln, April 2-4.
Feb. 15, 2023
HARTINGTON — The first 18 exhibits were received and the constitutionality of the death penalty was briefly argued in a hearing in Cedar County District Court here Monday morning. The hearing in the case against 42-year-old Jason A. Jones, accused of murdering four of his Laurel neighbors, lasted for about 45 minutes and exhibits included maps, data and charts highlighting the use of the death penalty throughout the United States and the world. Jones waived his right to appear in court Monday. His lawyer, Todd Lancaster of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, said Jones is still recovering from burn injuries and requires the assistance of a wheelchair. Along with brief oral arguments heard Monday, both sides will submit a written brief due to Meismer by March 17. At the time Meismer rules on the motion to quash the death penalty, he will also set Jones’ arraignment date and rule on a pending motion for discovery.
Feb. 15, 2023
LAUREL – The city of Laurel is taking action to get ready for an upcoming water tower project. The Laurel City Council approved the first reading of a water restriction ordinance during its Monday meeting. According to the ordinance, its purpose is “to adopt a plan for the declaration of a water supply watch, curtailment or emergency and the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures throughout the city in the event such a watch, curtailment or emergency is declared.” “It’s a proposed ordinance,” Laurel Mayor Keith Knudsen said in a follow-up interview. “The reason for it is, we’re required periodically to do maintenance on our water tower. It got pushed back for a couple of seasons because of the downtown project,” he said. “We were redoing water mains and those kinds of things.” The maintenance on Laurel’s water tower likely will be scheduled for April, with the work mainly being the repainting of the interior and exterior of the structure.
“The water tower will be out of commission for about a month, so we’ll be pumping from our wells,” Knudsen said.
Feb. 15, 2023
WAUSA – Plans are in progress to purchase and install playground equipment in memory of a little boy from Wausa who left the world too soon. A Wausa committee started planning for a memorial playground at the village’s Gladstone Park in honor of Payne Haberer shortly after the 2-year-old died on Aug. 15, 2022. He was the son of Coleridge natives Chris and Heidi (Hefner) Haberer.
Feb. 15, 2023
LAUREL — The Laurel Chamber held a ribbon cutting recently for Balanced Wellness and Massage owned by Alissa Thompson. Attending the event were: Annie McCorkindale, Bradyn Urwiler, Alissa Baier, Turner Thompson, Toni Thompson, Dustin Thompson, Berniece McCorkindale, Jeremy Christiansen, Delaney Johnson, Madalynn Graham, Craig Gutz, Alissa Thompson, Tanner Thompson, and Rachel Bonenberger.
Feb. 15, 2023
LAUREL — Jake Rath recently reached the 1,000-point milestone in a Laurel-Concord-Coleridge basketball game with Lutheran High Northeast on the Bears’ home floor in Laurel.
Rath took a pass, made a quick dribble on the block and scored with just over three minutes left in the third quarter of the game with the Eagles to put his team up 43- 30 on the way to a 66-43 win on Feb. 7. It would be safe to say, excluding free throws, which he is shooting at around a 72 percent clip this season, the bulk of Rath’s points have come from inside the paint, although he had hit six 3-pointers thus far this season and a good percentage of his points come after he has just rebounded the ball.
Feb. 15, 2023
LAUREL — Two wrestlers for the Quad County Northeast Blaze have found themselves heading to the state tournament after qualifying out of the C2 District. Seniors Kolby Casey and Ajay Gubbels are off to the state meet. Casey won the title and moved to 42-3 this season with a second-round pin over Clay Hedges of Archbishop Bergan.