Year in Review - Scoville, Uhing earn top leadership, communicator awards
May 1, 2019
HARTINGTON — Two of the area’s top students are being honored this month.
The annual Gov. Charles Thone Cedar County News Leadership award was presented to Hartington-Newcastle senior Willa Scoville at the annual Activities Night.
Sadie Uhing will be honored at Cedar Catholic’s annual Awards Night May 7 with the Joan Rossiter Burney Cedar County News Outstanding Communicator award.
The awards are presented to honor two of Hartington’s most famous former residents.
Thone was elected to serve Nebraska in Congress in 1970, a position he held until 1978 when he ran for and won the Nebraska governorship. He served as Nebraska’s Governor from 1979-1983. He died in 2018 at the age of 94.
Burney earned national acclaim for her writing and public speaking.
Her writing career began as a columnist for the Cedar County News. She later wrote for several publications, including the Omaha World-Herald. She is a nationally known motivational speaker and was named National Mother of the Year in 1991 and inducted into the Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame in 2015.
While both Thone and Burney were widely known across the state and country, they always made sure to tell people that they hail from Hartington, Nebraska — giving much of the credit for their accomplishments to the town, the people, that helped to raise them.
The awards focus on the outstanding leadership qualities of the recipients — qualities that are exemplified by the namesakes of these awards.
This year’s honorees are both impressive leaders and communicators.
Scoville, the daughter of Lisa Scoville, Hartington, finished her high school academic career as the top ranked student in her class.
Scoville has been involved in Student Council here since she was a seventh grader. She currently serves as Student Council Vice President and as National Honor Society President.
She has been a member of the following for her entire high school career: speech, One-Act, Honor Roll, Academic All-State, Quiz Bowl and basketball.
Scoville said she has always considered herself a good communicator and likes to work toward getting everyone to work together.
May 1, 2019
HARTINGTON — The annual Cedar County Relay for Life event was once again a big hit.
The annual fundraiser in the fight against cancer raised approximately $30,000 this year, said co-chairman Lois Lammers, Hartington.
Twelve fund-raising teams took part this year.
“We were happy with the number of people that came out to celebrate and fight back,” Lammers said.
Approximately 36 survivors walked the survivor lap with breast cancer survivors Deb Leise, Sheri Mason, Sandy Bohlken and Deb Perk carrying the survivor banner.
Over 600 luminaries lit up the Hartington-Newcastle School gym during a special lighting display ceremony.
“The luminaria ceremony was very touching,” Lammers said.
May 8, 2019
WYNOT — Rick and Jeff Harrison walked through Cedar County Saturday morning as part of their Veterans Walk for Dad trek across the country fund-raiser.
There journey began 1,740 miles and 40 pounds ago, back on Jan. 23 in South Naples, Fla. Their plan is to complete their walk across the country in late July in Seattle, Washington.
The brothers, both veterans themselves, said they decided to make the walk to honor their late father, William, who died in April of last year. He was a veteran who suffered from dementia near the end of his life.
“While he did receive care and some treatment, there was not much that could be done about his situation. With a raise in awareness of mental health issues such as this, there may be something that can be done in the future for people who face a similar crisis,” Rick said.
To date, they have spread their message by pushing their homemade cart-billboardsuitcase-mobile home through 12 states.
The journey has taken a toll on their cart, their shoes and their bodies.
They have gone through four sets of tires on the cart, and three pair of shoes each. Another pair of shoes “are halfway gone.” Both have also lost 40 pounds along the way, despite having to eat 5,000 calories each day to maintain the strength to push the cart 20-30 miles each day.
May 8, 2019
HARTINGTON — Willa Scoville had a message for her classmates Saturday.
“Why fit in when you are meant to stand out,” she said, quoting from children’s author Dr. Seuss.
Scoville’s comments summed up the character of the Hartington-Newcastle Public School graduating Class of 2019.
“Each and every classmate of mine has something unique to offer,” she said.
The HNS Class of 2019 was a part of several accomplishments, including state championships in speech, one-act play and track. Members of the class were also friendly, helpful and
caring, she said.