Year in Review - State group honors two Hartington residents
March, 6, 2019
LINCOLN — Wynot High School came into last week’s Girls State Basketball Tournament as the seventh seed, but hard work and hustle helped the Lady Devils walk away with their sixth state title in nine years. Team members celebrated on the court and on the bench after Wynot earned the one-point victory over Falls City Sacred Heart in Saturday night’s title game.
March, 6, 2019
HARTINGTON — Hartington-Newcastle elementary school students celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday Friday by reading Bartholomew and the Oobleck and decided to see just what that Oobleck was like. The students came dressed as characters from books, shared their excitement for books by reading some Reader’s Theater to the local nursing home residents, and did some Stop, Drop, and Read moments throughout the day.
March, 6, 2019
HARTINGTON — Sheila Jueden of Cedar Catholic and Steve Martini of Hartington-Newcastle have both been honored with the Outstanding Service Award by the Nebraska State Athletic Administrators Association (NSIAAA).
Ten people across the state received the award which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to high school athletics.
When interviewed, both Jueden and Martini were humbled by the distinction.
Neither viewed the extra time they put into numerous activities throughout the year as anything worth mentioning. To them, it is part of their job, in a sense.
“I’d rather have criticism than praise, it is just something I am not good at [dealing with],” said Jueden. “I think I am appreciated, but when they tell me thanks for all I do that is all I need.”
Jueden and Martini are both extremely active with their respective schools, but neither seemed to feel what they were doing was award worthy.
That is until they started thinking about everything they do.
In Jueden’s profile, she lists a plethora of duties like bus transportation supervisor, operating the concession stand, assisting the Booster Club with fund raisers, preparing food for penance services, running the school’s Spirit Store, coaching the girls’ golf team for the past 10 years, and more.
Martini mentioned how his role with the athletic programs has expanded since a former athletic director initially got him involved with reffing volleyball. Then he started running the book for basketball games.
He has since become a referee in football, has helped coach different teams, and also has spent time with the track and field team.
“A lot of times I feel like I am not doing enough,” said Martini. “It is a few hours at night but it is not all of the hours of practice and watching film that the coaches do. So I have never thought that I did that much really, but it is nice to know that someone has noticed it.”
Martini said the NSIAAA award is similar to an award he received from the Lewis & Clark Conference for his service to his school and beyond, but still Martini stayed adamant on where the attention should be given.
“To compare what I do with what the coaches do, they are the ones committing a large amount of time.”
Both Jueden and Martini said they like what they do, which is part of the reason why they were honored.
Not only do they help out when needed, but they step into the roles gladly.
March, 6, 2019
NORFOLK - The seventh annual Northeast Nebraska All Star Football Classic coaches and officials have been announced, with Corey Uldrich of Hartington-Newcastle joining the Red Team.
Uldrich will coach alongside head coach Tom Allen from Crofton, along with South Sioux City’s Silas Fluellen, Wakefield’s Mike Hassler, Creighton’s Zac Kliment, and Crofton’s Johnnie Ostermeyer.
The group is a mix of both 8-man and 11-man football coaches coming together to coach an All-Star team of players that has not been announced yet.
The All-Star Classic plays an 11-man game Saturday, June 8. The players and coaches have a week of practice beforehand to get on the same page.
Uldrich coached Hartington-Newcastle to a 6-4 record this year, finishing the season with a loss to Humphrey St. Francis in the second round of the Class D2 State Playoffs.
Uldrich does have some experience coaching 11-man though, having previously been a part of the Cedar Catholic staff.
“I will have to go back in the old memory banks. It has been a while since I was at Cedar, but it will be fun. We have a good staff and will all help each other out, and it will be a good game.”
March, 13, 2019
OMAHA — The possibility of major spring flooding is becoming a big threat along midwest creeks and rivers, thanks in part to a record or near-record snowpack in some areas.
Even though below zero temperatures are only a few days in the past, Cedar County residents had to be concerned about flooding this week as temperatures Sunday hit the high 30s and zoomed into the high 40s Monday and Tuesday, melting quite a bit of snow.
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for Cedar and Knox counties from Monday through Thursday evening this week.
The warning was issued because of the combination of warmer temperatures, heavy snow melt, frozen ground, and a thick ice cover. Those conditions, along with a strong storm system projected to produce 1-3 inches of rain this week, are expected to heighten the risk of creek and river flooding.
David Pearson, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service, said this week’s predicted rain storm could really cause some problems.
“If this rain ends up on the higher end ... and the right conditions occur with ice movement, it’s not out of the question for somebody to hit record or major flood status,” he said.
According to the most recent National Weather Service River Forecast Centers’ long-range report, there is at least a 50 percent chance of major flooding some time through May at 132 locations across the U.S., primarily in the Midwest and upper Great Plains.
The prediction was made based on the fact several locations in the upper Midwest and mountain West, recorded one of their snowiest Februaries on record,
Unofficial weather statistics show Hartington with 33 inches of snow so far this season.
This area normally gets about 28 inches of snow per winter season, according to data collected from the High Plains Regional Climate Center.
The National Weather Service says the flood threat has risen in the past two weeks as snow on the ground in some areas increased to near historic highs.
The weather service says flooding depends on how fast the snow melts.
A United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management update Thursday indicated officials are expecting a wet spring for the Missouri River basin.
March, 13, 2019
COLERIDGE — An area woman died in a Thursday afternoon fire in her home near here.
Lori Burton, 62, was killed when the house she lived in caught fire. The blaze apparently started in the kitchen area.
Deputy State Fire Marshall Alyssa Sanders said Burton died from smoke inhalation.
The fire was reported at 1:57 p.m. Thursday by someone driving past on a nearby road.
The 911 caller told Cedar County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers that the house was totally engulfed in flames.
Emergency personnel at the scene said it appeared the fire started in the kitchen since that part of the roof was caved in by the time they reached the fire.
Once emergency personnel got to the scene, the propane and electricity were immediately shut off.
Emergency crews were initially concerned they might have trouble reaching the house because the driveway was not totally clear of snow, so the Cedar County Road Department was called to see if they could assist.
Nebraska Fire Marshall investigator Jeff Going was on the scene late Thursday afternoon.
Sanders said because of the extent of the damage to the structure, which was totally destroyed,
Going was unable to make a determination as to what started the blaze.
The Coleridge, Belden and Hartington fire departments all responded to the scene, which is located about six miles southwest of Hartington just east of the intersection of 560 Road and 876 Avenue.