Representatives from Laurel-Concord- Coleridge School, the city of Randolph, Randolph Public Schools, and Wynot Public Schools were among those required to participate in the hearing, commonly called the Pink Postcard meeting.

Nebraska law requires a taxing entity to participate in a joint public hearing when its proposed property tax request exceeds its allowable growth percentage. The hearing gives taxpayers an opportunity to learn about the proposed budgets and ask questions before they are finalized.

About two dozen county residents attended the meeting, which was moderated by Cedar County Clerk Jessica Schmit.

Wynot Public Schools Supt. Paul Hans told audience members the district faces a balancing act each year as it works to meet educational and facility needs of students without placing an undue burden on taxpayers.

Hans said the district’s total assessed valuation increased approximately 6.36 percent for the 2026-27 budget year.

Despite that increase, the district is proposing to lower its overall property tax levy from 86.48 cents to 85.18 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The levy has dropped by nearly 15 cents since 2022-23, when it stood at 100.12 cents.

The district is requesting approximately $2.35 million in property taxes for its General Fund and $194,000 for its Special Building Fund. It is not requesting property taxes for its Bond Fund this year, compared with approximately $245,000 requested for that fund last year.

Hans said Wynot was required to participate in the joint hearing because its proposed non-bond property tax request exceeded the state’s allowable-growth threshold.

The district’s allowable growth percentage was 3.39 percent, permitting a non-bond property tax request of approximately $2.258 million without triggering the hearing requirement. Wynot’s proposed non-bond request is approximately $2.547 million, or about $289,000 above that threshold.

Hans emphasized that exceeding the threshold triggers the public hearing process but does not mean the district has exceeded a legal spending limit.

Although the district is requesting more property tax revenue, its overall operating budget is expected to increase only slightly. The proposed budget totals approximately $6.255 million, up about $19,000, or 0.3 percent, from $6.236 million in 2025-26.

The General Fund budget is expected to decrease by approximately $101,000, or 2.14 percent.

The Special Building Fund budget, however, would increase from approximately $234,000 to $442,000. Hans said the district’s Bond Fund is declining significantly as its existing bond obligation comes to an end.

Officials from Laurel and Randolph public schools had similar explanations.

Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Supt. Jeremy Christensen told audience members the district’s proposed 2026-27 General Fund budget is $11.4 million, an increase of $184,994, or 1.65 percent, from the previous year’s budget.

The increase includes approximately $203,000 in additional personnel costs for salaries, Social Security and Medicare taxes, retirement contributions and a 7.44 percent increase in health insurance costs.

The district is also planning for current and future facility needs, including resurfacing the track and completing roof repairs and maintenance.

Just the Messenger will present its Sound of Freedom concert at 3:30 p.m., honoring veterans while raising awareness of an effort to provide housing for those in need.

A freewill offering will be accepted, and a meal will follow. Everyone is invited, especially veterans and students.

Laurie Larsen, a member of Just the Messenger, said the group is partnering with Bridgehead, a Holt County organization working to build a home for veterans who are leaving treatment or other services and have no place to live.

The concerts celebrate veterans and rural communities while drawing attention to homelessness among veterans in northeast Nebraska, Larsen said.

“I just thought, when we’re out there singing, let’s sing for a cause,” she said.

The group also is selling raffle tickets for four patriotic quilts donated by women from Verdigre. Proceeds will support the Bridgehead effort.

Larsen said the raffle provides another opportunity to explain the organization’s mission.

The Sound of Freedom concert series, which combines music and video, began in May as part of an effort to visit communities throughout the region during the nation’s 250th anniversary year.

The group has performed in Holt, Yankton and Knox counties, with additional concerts planned in Pierce, Antelope and Madison counties.

Just the Messenger began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when members started singing at churches, community centers and other locations to encourage people experiencing anxiety and uncertainty.

The group now includes 13 people, including two high school students and a seventh grader.

Members are Kim Sawatzke, Crofton; Eric Tippery, Gil Larsen, Christy Mackeprang, Madyson Mlady, Kennedy Mlady, Bailey Mlady and Laurie Larsen, Bloomfield; Tim White, Lynch; Randee Falter, Pierce; Deb Van Metre, Creighton; Viv Lackas, Norfolk; and Jan Shiferl, Fordyce.

DETROIT — The Cedar County News earned five national awards last week, bringing its total to 28 National Newspaper Association awards since 2020.

The News was one of only seven Nebraska newspapers recognized Friday, Sept. 18, during the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 140th annual convention and trade show at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

The Hartington newspaper earned honors for local news coverage, feature photography, photo essay, sports photography and sports writing.

Judges praised the emotion captured in Jeremy Buss’ photograph of Cedar Catholic wrestling coaches jumping for joy at the State Wrestling Tournament.

Judges said the photo showed “great facial expressions and pure emotion. The focus is sharp and the expressions and jumps make it pop — proof that good sports photos aren’t limited to what’s taking place on a field or court.”

Buss also earned recognition for his photograph of swimming lessons at the Hartington swimming pool.

Rob Dump’s feature photos of the St. Helena Fourth of July celebration earned national honors, as did his story about Cedar Catholic’s Evie Freeman winning the school’s first district wrestling title.

Judges praised the article’s “strong reporting, and nice storytelling about an athlete with a cool story to tell. Feature stories like this make any sports section better.”

The News also earned recognition for its overall local news coverage. Judges described its City Council coverage as “factual, captivating and entertaining.” They also noted the newspaper's other news articles were 'well-written local content highlighting a wide range of voices reflecting the community.'

Other Nebraska newspapers receiving awards were the Antelope County News, Knox County News, Cedar Valley News, Fairbury News, Hooker County News and Stanton Register.

The 2026 Better Newspaper Editorial Contest drew 1,552 entries, while the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest attracted 246, for a combined 1,798 entries from 32 states. Judges presented 724 awards.

The Wyoming Press Association received the seventh annual Best of NNA Award, with its newspapers earning 114 awards. Texas followed with 69 and California with 67. It was Wyoming’s sixth Best of NNA honor for excellence in editorial and advertising.

Entries were judged primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, along with retired university journalism professors and former newspaper professionals.

The staff of the Grosse Pointe News Times in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., won the new “It’s All About Audience” category, sponsored by the Tonda Rush Scholarship Fund.

Rush, NNA’s longtime legal counsel, praised the newspaper’s fishing tournament for building community involvement and reaching new readers.

“This indeed checked all the boxes. It got people involved in the community, developed its own audience and showed newspapers can attract a demographic that might otherwise not pay much attention to the news,” Rush said.

The commissioners approved a total tax request of $8,292,045.28 and a county levy of 0.205088. The previous year’s levy was 0.216982.

During the budget hearing, commissioners and county officials also discussed how the county manages its bridge and road funds.

The county has about $1 million set aside in a bridge fund after transferring $250,000 annually for four years. Officials said the money was set aside as a reserve for bridge construction and emergencies at a time when the state’s bridge funding program was uncertain.

Officials explained that a separate fund receives state and federal- related road funding that can be accumulated for larger projects. The county’s proposed budget includes about $2.77 million in the fund, which can be used for projects such as major bridges and box culverts.

Officials noted that individual road districts also budget for smaller structures, but a major bridge can cost more than $1 million and cannot realistically be funded from a single district’s annual budget.

The combined road budget for 2026-27 includes $11,562,932.89 in expenditures. Road officials also expect revenue from state sources, including street and bridge buyback programs, as well as reimbursements from companies that have damaged county roads while installing infrastructure.

The county has already received about $20,300 through settlements related to road damage, with three additional installments expected to provide another $16,584. The additional settlement money was presented to the board during Tuesday’s meeting for signatures.

County officials also explained that the county’s general fund is starting the fiscal year with just under $2 million. A portion of that increase came from Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement.

Rather than allowing the reimbursement to create a large one-year reduction in the tax request, officials said the county plans to use the money over time to avoid significant fluctuations in future tax requests.

Investment income also drew questions during the hearing. One county resident in attendance, Ed Lammers, questioned whether the county’s projected interest revenue was conservative, noting information indicating the county may have more than $6 million invested.

Officials said the county received $352,000 in interest the previous year and budgeted $350,000 for the current year. The county treasurer manages the investments while maintaining enough cash to pay county bills.

Lammers also questioned why certificates of deposit are not shown directly in the budget documents. Officials said the investment information is included in the county’s audit report.

Cedar County Transit was another budget concern. Officials said state and federal grant amounts included in the proposed budget are those currently approved, but future funding remains uncertain.

Changes involving Medicaid are expected to help offset some of the funding gap. The county anticipates about $100,000 from Medicaid and other government-funded sponsored rides.

At the regular meeting, Emergency Management Director Kevin Garvin reported storm damage to the county’s tower for the Wynot Fire Department’s paging system. The board approved $2,872 for repairs to an antenna that was blown sideways. Garvin said the equipment was still functioning but not efficiently, and the county planned to submit the repair to insurance.

Garvin also reported that the generator at the Hartington tower site failed during an annual maintenance load-bank test. Technicians were working to determine whether a computer module or software issue was responsible.

Garvin told commissioners the county’s drone also had failed and that repair costs made replacement a consideration. However, proposed federal regulations and state restrictions on the purchase of foreign-made equipment have complicated the decision.

Garvin said an American-made public safety drone could cost approximately $10,000 to $12,000. He planned to investigate grant opportunities and wait for federal regulations to become clearer before recommending a purchase.

The board also discussed a onemile section of road two miles east of Coleridge that historically was designated as a military route, according to Highway Superintendent Carla Schmit.

Schmit said the road is not currently graveled and functions as a minimum maintenance road, but its classification creates questions about whether the county can post minimum maintenance signage.

County officials will soon be checking with the state to determine how the road was originally designated.

If necessary, a public hearing could be required before the road could formally be classified as minimum maintenance.

Commissioners also opened bids for two box culverts on the Bow Valley Northeast and Laurel North projects. Three bids were received. High Plains Structural Group submitted a combined bid of $922,995.25, while JMN’s combined bid was $537,469.05. A&R also submitted a combined bid of $464,601.88. The county plans to review the bids before awarding the projects.

Commissioners approved a special designated liquor license for the Bow Valley Park Association for Noecker’s Acres’ fall festival on Oct. 3.

Commissioners also approved building permits for Janet Heine, Pct. 1, for a horse barn and Mark Becker, Pct. 1, for a pole shed.

The city of Randolph, Randolph School District, Wynot Public Schools and LCC School District are all required to attend the meeting.

The meeting, which will begin at 6:05 p.m., is designed to give the public a chance to comment on proposed property tax increases that exceed Nebraska’s “allowable growth percentage.”

The hearing, dubbed the “pink postcard meeting,” typically draws about 35 people from all corners of the county to the Hartington City Auditorium basement meeting room.

The entities involved are requesting: Laurel Concord Coleridge School, property tax requested: $9,272,510. Randolph, property tax requested: $ 3,888,889. Wynot, property tax requested: $2,547,273. City of Randolph property tax requested: $376,275. There is no item on the agenda for this joint public meeting other than discussion of each political subdivision’s intent to increase its property tax request by a percentage greater than the “allowable growth percentage” defined in state statute.

HARTINGTON — Hartington’s volunteer firefighters hope they never have to use the skills they practiced earlier this month.

But if a farmer becomes trapped in a grain bin or caught in an auger, they want to be ready.

Members of the Hartington Volunteer Fire Department recently gathered at a grain bin site west of Hartington for their annual farm accident training, practicing techniques for grain bin entrapments and auger accidents.

The department regularly conducts monthly training sessions at the fire hall and also schedules special field exercises throughout the year. Firefighters generally conduct a mock accident drill every couple of years and focus on farm accidents each September.

“We also worked on entrapment inside of an auger, like if someone had an arm or leg wrapped up in an auger and how we would approach that to extricate that victim,” Hartington Fire Chief Ryan Marsh said.

Marsh said training for a wide range of emergencies is critical because no two accident scenes are exactly alike.

“Every scene you're on is going to be a little different,” he said. “We could train 1,000 times and then hit the real deal the next day and not have trained on it. Everything's a little different every time, but you try to hit a broad spectrum of what you think could happen.”

The department tries to make its training exercises as realistic as possible, Marsh said.

Even when firefighters repeat the same type of drill from year to year, they often learn something new.

“There were comments made after the drill that, yeah, we hit on this yearly, but even hitting on it yearly, they pick up on something new every year,” Marsh said.

Fortunately, serious farm accidents have been relatively uncommon in the Hartington area.

In Marsh’s 20 years with the department, firefighters have responded to only two grain bin accidents and two auger accidents.

He urges farmers to use caution around grain bins, adding that, 'if there's no need to be in these bins, just stay out of them.'

“I would love to train every month and plan to never, ever use it,” he said. “That would be the best thing ever. But ultimately, you train for the unknown on any accident that could come in, and a grain bin rescue is just one of them.”

As the department has increased its training, it also has added specialized equipment for farm rescues.

“I would say 20 years ago, we carried very little to no grain rescue equipment,” Marsh said. “Then we picked up a grant and got the full set of grain rescue equipment.”

The department now has a trailer dedicated to hauling this equipment.

“We are fully equipped,” Marsh said. “Not every department is, but we are fully equipped with grain rescue equipment.”

Hartington firefighters also know they would not handle a major grain rescue alone.

Central Valley Ag has grain rescue equipment and a specialized rescue ropes team that can be brought to the scene to assist firefighters.

“If a call came in today and it came across as a grain entrapment, we would contact CVA to assist us,” Marsh said. “They're not there to take the scene over, but they're there to assist us.”

Marsh said CVA carries much of the same grain rescue equipment as the fire department.

LifeNet also would be called immediately so a paramedic could assist with medical care for a victim during the rescue.

The department can also call on Cedar- Knox Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power District for assistance, including the use of bucket trucks when needed.

Marsh said that cooperation can be critical during unusual or complicated rescue situations.

He also said the department is grateful for the continued support it receives from area residents and businesses.

That support, combined with regular training and specialized equipment, gives Hartington firefighters more options when an emergency call comes in.

The goal, Marsh said, is to be prepared for the farm accident they hope never happens.

CROFTON — Winds estimated at more than 100 mph tore through northern Cedar and Knox counties Sept. 1, damaging buildings, snapping utility poles and leaving widespread destruction in and around Crofton and Fordyce.

Wynot was also hit, knocking down several tree branches and damageing roofs. Wynot students were dismissed from school to help clean up the debris.

The National Weather Service office in Omaha reported wind speeds of 110-113 mph near Fordyce during the storm.

The storm struck Crofton and the surrounding countryside particularly hard. Fallen trees and limbs covered streets and properties, while downed power lines created additional hazards. A machine shed east of Crofton was destroyed along Highway 12, just east of its intersection with U.S. Highway 81. Other rural properties also sustained damage, including a shed and part of a pig nursery northwest of Crofton.

A large Nebraska Public Power District transmission line was knocked down northwest of the community. Two utility poles were snapped near the driveway of a rural residence.

Crofton Mayor Randy Ausdemore said damage was reported throughout the community and surrounding rural area. A tree limb punched a hole through the roof of the gazebo at Crofton’s South Park, while a house along the north side of Highway 12 was heavily damaged by a split tree trunk and falling branches.

Cleanup work began early Wednesday morning as residents, city employees and volunteers used trucks, trailers and heavy equipment to remove debris. Crews concentrated first on clearing streets, removing dangerous limbs and establishing a site where trees and branches could be taken.

Crofton volunteer firefighters checked damaged homes following the storm to make sure residents were safe. They also shut off gas meters where necessary.

By Wednesday, crews were continuing to clear streets, document damage and remove hazards as the area began recovering from one of the strongest storms to strike this region in recent years.

HARTINGTON – When Dean and Lisa Burbach started bottling milk 20 years ago, they weren’t following a carefully laid-out business plan. Like many entrepreneurs, they were taking a chance.

It wasn’t an overnight decision either.

The family began milking cows in 1996. They built a milk barn in 1999, and after the Hartington cheese plant closed in 2003, Dean began considering whether local dairy farmers could work together to purchase the facility.

That idea never materialized, but it eventually led the Burbachs in another direction: bottling their own milk.

The Burbachs formed their LLC in 2005 and spent the following year assembling a processing operation. The first delivery of Burbach’s Countryside Dairy milk was made Sept. 29, 2006.

For Dean, the anniversary is less about a particular number than what it represents.

“The pride to me comes from just overcoming the obstacles,” he said. “And that we kept going.”

Labor and finances were among the biggest challenges, but the family also had to learn an entirely new side of the dairy business. The Burbachs found processing equipment in Wisconsin, moved it to Nebraska, reassembled it and began figuring out how to turn their own milk into a bottled product.

The family initially bottled white milk, chocolate milk and strawberry milk. Rootbeer milk, the first of many fun flavors, was first introduced to the product lineup just 10 months later.

The business has continued to evolve, although much of the original processing equipment remains in use. The changes have largely been in efficiency and scale.

Today, the dairy bottles about 70 percent of the milk produced by its herd, with the remainder going to a cooperative.

Consumer preferences have also changed, the Burbachs said. Skim milk, once one of the the dairy’s biggest sellers, now accounts for only a small portion of its white milk sales, while whole milk has become dominant.

Through all those changes, Burbach’s Countryside Dairy has remained a family effort.

Dean and Lisa developed their roles naturally as the business grew. Lisa took on the office work, orders, invoices, regulations and financial responsibilities, while Dean handled the farm and processing operation.

Their children also grew up working in the business.

For Dean, one of the greatest advantages of a family operation is dependability.

“Family’s always got your back,” he said. “They’ll always be there when they’re supposed to be there. They’ll do what needs done.”

The family’s favorite memories aren’t necessarily about major business milestones. Instead, they remember working together – milking cows, delivering milk and helping each other during busy times.

One Thanksgiving stands out to Lisa, when family members worked together to finish the farm chores in time for everyone to get home and prepare the holiday meal.

For Dean, the memories are similarly rooted in family. He said he remembers taking his children along on milk deliveries and having them help with the business as they grew up.

“All the memories that I would say are my favorites are for sure family,” he said.

The continued involvement of the next generation has added a new chapter to the family operation.

Luke Burbach and his wife Katie moved back to the area in October 2025. Luke said he is learning the responsibilities Dean has carried for decades and spending much of his time in the processing plant.

Katie has also become involved in the business, using her marketing background to manage social media, develop customer relationships and help promote the dairy’s products.

Another of Dean and Lisa’s sons, Deacon, has spent the past several months working as a delivery driver. He recently took on the family’s new route in the Lincoln area, helping Burbach’s Countryside Dairy expand its reach.

Dean has long described the business as a train: As long as it keeps moving, the family will keep riding.

“I just hope the train keeps moving,” he said. “If there’s opportunity to grow, I think we will take it.”

After years of uncertainty and challenges, Dean said the greatest accomplishment has been enduring the journey.

“There’s a lot of water that went under that bridge,” he said. “It’s just really satisfying that we overcame all the obstacles that came our way and we got to a point where we can say we made it 20 years.”

Luke said he sees the 20-year milestone as the beginning of another chapter for the family business with more milestone to come.

The Burbachs also credited the customers who helped make these last 20 years possible.

“We’d like to thank all the customers that made it possible and everybody who has supported us in the last 20 years,” Dean said.

The Burbachs will celebrate that milestone with a 20-Year Farm Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the farm.

The free event will include lunch, facility tours, milk sampling, raffle prizes, a bounce house, horse rides, yard games, coloring activities, a farm scavenger hunt, local vendors, coffee, drinks, homemade treats and more.

The family is encouraging guests to RSVP so they can plan for lunch, parking and activities.

After 20 years of building a business and raising a family alongside the dairy, the Burbachs are ready to celebrate — and then keep the train moving.

Cedar County, the city of Hartington, the Cedar County Ag Society, Hartington Airport Authority, Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools, the village boards of Belden, Coleridge, Fordyce, Obert, St. Helena and Wynot, as well as the rural fire districts are all planning budget hearings this month.

The Cedar County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 8 a.m., Sept. 8, at the Cedar County Courthouse. A separate hearing on the final property tax request will be held at 11 a.m. that day.

The City of Hartington and the Hartington Newcastle School Board are planning their hearings for Sept. 14.

Cedar County is proposing a $31.72 million operating budget for 2026-27, an increase of 7.29 percent from the previous year’s $29.57 million budget. The county’s property tax request, however, would decline by $174,631, or 2.06 percent, from $8.47 million to $8.29 million.

The county’s taxable valuation increased 3.6 percent, climbing from $3.90 billion to $4.04 billion. The combination of higher valuation and a lower tax request would reduce the county tax rate by 5.47 percent, from 21.6948 cents to 20.5088 cents per $100 of taxable valuation.

If a property’s valuation remained at $100,000, the county tax would decline by about $11.86.

Some of the biggest budgetary changes involve the inheritance tax, and bridge and road projects.

The county saw an increase in inheritance tax income, so $5.75 million was budgeted in that account. Commissioners have no plans to spend those funds, though. By budgeting that amount, they have the ability to spend the money in case of an emergency, however.

Bridge federal aid spending would increase from $220,284 to $2.78 million.

The proposal also includes a new $1.05 million bridge construction and repair fund and an $885,000 road sinking fund to allow the county to save for big road and bridge projects down the road.

The county's valuation was certified the previous week, allowing ocials to move forward with the budget process.

County Clerk Jessica Schmit told commissioners that the county’s cash balances

are significantly higher than they were a year ago.

That increase is due in part to funds received through FEMA. The inheritance tax fund also received substantially more revenue than in recent years and now has more than $5 million in it.

Rather than using the funds from that account all at once, the county plans to apply roughly $30,000 this year toward reducing the amount requested for the road bond and continue that approach over the remaining life of the bond.

The county also proposed increasing its general fund cash reserve from $750,000 to $1.2 million. A $75,000 cash reserve was restored to the transit budget after ocials realized one had not been included in last year’s budget.

Commissioners also reviewed Cedar County Transit's vehicle fleet and plans to replace aging vehicles. Seven new Toyota Sienna vans are expected through a grant program. The county’s local share is expected to be about $21,000, or roughly $3,000 per vehicle.

The seven incoming vehicles are regular passenger vans rather than wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Transit Director Ashley Gowery also iden- tified three older wheelchair-accessible vans the Transit would like to replace because of mechanical problems.

Gowery said she plans to apply for another grant when the next funding cycle opens.

Commissioners also discussed confusion caused by election-related mailers being sent by a third-party nonprofit organization.

County Clerk Jessica Schmit said these mailers are not being sent by the county election oce or through Nebraska's voter registration system.

Ocials said they have received ques tions about postcards and applications for early or absentee voting. Some residents have wondered if they must complete the third-party application to receive a ballot.

Ocials stressed that is not necessary and that registered voters will continue to receive ballots according to the normal process.

One conditional use permit was approved by commissioners for Towers, LLC, Pct. 16, for a 315-foot tower.

The commissioners’ next meeting is set for Sept. 8 immediately following the budget hearing beginning at 8 a.m.

HARTINGTON — Northern Cedar County schools reported slight enrollment declines when classes began last month.

Hartington-Newcastle Public School opened the school year with 340 students, 26 fewer than at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

The freshman class is the district’s largest, with 35 students. The senior class has 34 students.

Holy Trinity Elementary School reported an enrollment decline of seven students, which Principal Stacie Uttecht attributed to a smaller preschool class.

“We are up from last year in kindergarten through sixth grade by two students, but down in preschool this year with 11 students, as we usually have 20,” Uttecht said.

Holy Trinity has 191 students enrolled in preschool through sixth grade this year.

The third-grade class is the school’s largest, with 26 students. The preschool class, with 11 students, is the smallest.

Cedar Catholic High School Principal Chad Cattau reported an enrollment of 168 students in grades seven through 12.

The freshman class is the school’s largest, with 34 students. The sophomore class is the smallest, with 19 students.

Wynot Public School has a total prekindergarten- through-12th-grade enrollment of 179 students this year.

Although that number is down from 2025, Supt. Paul Hans said the district’s elementary enrollment is showing a positive trend.

“One encouraging trend is our elementary enrollment, which has implications for future enrollment,” Hans said. “Those students will eventually move into the middle and high school grades.”

Elementary enrollment has grown from

74 students in 2022-23 to 85 students this year, he said.

“Elementary students now make up nearly half of our total enrollment,” Hans said. “At the same time, middle and high school enrollment has declined as smaller classes have moved through those grade levels.”

2026 Holy Trinity Enrollment Preschool- 11 Jr. Kindergarten-24 Kindergarten- 22

1st Grade- 22

2nd Grade- 20

3rd Grade- 26

4th Grade- 19

5th Grade- 23

6th Grade- 24 Total PreK-6 191

2026 Cedar Catholic Enrollment 

7th- 29

8th- 30

9th- 34

10th- 19

11th- 36

12th- 21 Total 168

2026 HNS Enrollment 

PK - 21 Kdg - 25

1st - 15

2nd - 17

3rd - 19

4th - 30

5th - 21

6th - 29

7th - 16

8th - 25

9th - 35

10th - 27

11th - 23

12th - 34 Out of district placement - 3 Total enrollment 340 

2026 WPS Enrollment 

PK - 18 Kdg - 16

1st - 12

2nd - 15

3rd - 11

4th - 13

5th - 10

6th - 12

7th - 10

8th - 11

9th - 15

10th - 10

11th - 13

12th - 13 Total enrollment 179

HARTINGTON — Jerry Nordeen was simply trying to do a favor for his wife and her family.

While visiting a cemetery to place flowers on family graves, Nordeen noticed several monuments were in need of repair. He took it upon himself to fix them.

That favor soon grew into a post-retirement career for the 84-year-old Norfolk man.

Last week, Nordeen spent several days in Hartington straightening and repairing monuments at the request of the Hartington City Council.

Nordeen operates Monument Solutions LLC, a Norfolk-based cemetery preservation company that repairs, cleans and re-levels aging gravestones and monuments.

Nordeen has more than 25 years of experience in the monument industry and has helped preserve hundreds of historic monuments throughout the region.

He worked for Watertown Monuments and Luken Monuments before retiring.

These days, he generally works with one or two assistants, re-leveling leaning gravestones and rebuilding broken or damaged monuments.

His work also includes cleaning and treating granite and marble monuments to remove mold and mildew, restoring weathered inscriptions and refurbishing bronze military markers.

Nordeen received extensive training through a granite manufacturer’s educational program and previously worked as a memorial counselor for Luken Memorials.

His work has taken him to cemeteries throughout Northeast Nebraska. It’s a job that could easily become a full-time venture, but at his age, he prefers to keep it part time.

“There’s always work to be done,” he said. “There just aren’t enough hours in the day for it all.”

There was plenty of work to be done at the Hartington City Cemetery.

Nordeen said 15 stone markers were lying on the ground and 10 more were leaning badly and needed to be straightened before they fell over.

Several others were loose from their mounts and could easily come tumbling down someday.

Two marble stones were crumbling badly. Nordeen planned to take one of them back to Norfolk to work on.

When he finishes his work in Harting ton, Nordeen plans to head to Coleridge to work on cemeteries there.

The Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District is seeking bids for four contracts that make up the Yankton Water Supply Development Project. The proposed work includes nearly six miles of large water-transmission lines, a Missouri River crossing, two water-storage tanks and two booster pump stations.

Sealed bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Lewis & Clark NRD office, 608 N. Robinson Ave., Hartington. The bids will be opened publicly and read aloud at that time.

The work has been divided into four contracts, and companies are not required to bid on the entire project. Contractors bidding on more than one portion must submit a separate, complete bid package for each contract.

The first contract covers improvements to the water-transmission system. The work includes approximately 3½ miles of 18-inch waterline, 2¼ miles of 16inch waterline and 400 feet of 12-inch waterline.

That portion of the project also includes a Missouri River crossing, stream and road crossings, valves, cleanouts, a concrete vault, connections, testing, restoration and other pipeline- The second contract calls for the design and construction of an elevated water-storage tank. Alternate bids are being requested for tanks capable of holding 200,000, 300,000 or 400,000 gallons.

Work on the elevated tank would include site preparation, grading, a reinforced concrete foundation, welding and corrosion-resistant coating. The contract also includes access structures, plumbing, ventilation, lightning protection, electrical equipment and a water-mixing system.

A third contract covers the design and construction of a 1-million-gallon ground storage tank. That work includes excavation, a reinforced concrete foundation, welding, protective coating, plumbing, ventilation and a mixing system.

Both tank projects include disinfection, site restoration and cleanup after construction.

The fourth contract calls for two built-in-place booster pump stations. The proposed work includes site preparation, reinforced concrete foundations, plumbing, mechanical and electrical equipment, generators, process piping, pumps and connections to existing waterlines.

Gravel drives, a chainlink security fence and gate, site restoration and seeding are also included in the pump-station contract.

The available public data support the view that farmers who relied entirely on rainfall face a more difficult 2026 harvest than those able to irrigate. They do not, however, prove that every nonirrigated field will produce a poor crop.

Rainfall has varied considerably from one farm to another, and final yields will also depend on soil type, planting date, crop maturity, plant population and the timing of each storm.

Still, the broad indicators point in the same direction: Northeast Nebraska entered the growing season short of moisture, subsoil reserves remained limited through the summer and the statewide outlook for both corn and soybeans has fallen below last year’s results.

A Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network gauge at Hartington recorded just 1.22 inches of precipitation in June. The site’s federal climate normal for the month is 4.30 inches, meaning the gauge received about 28 percent of normal June moisture.

The same gauge received most of its July rain in a few events, including 1.27 inches reported July 3 and .70 of an inch July 31. Long dry stretches separated those storms, including a run of zero readings from July 10 through July 22, apart from days on which no report was filed.

Conditions have changed in August. The Hartington gauge recorded 2.19 inches from Aug. 4 through Monday morning, including .89 of an inch reported Monday. Rain also was measured Aug. 5, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20.

Those rains can still aid soybean pod development and help corn complete grain fill. They also improve pasture conditions and reduce immediate stress on livestock water and forage supplies.

They cannot fully replace moisture that was unavailable earlier, though.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that Nebraska’s subsoil moisture was 28 percent very short and 34 percent short for the week ending Aug. 16. Together, that meant 62 percent of the state’s cropland had less subsoil moisture than needed for normal crop development. Topsoil moisture was rated 22 percent very short and 27 percent short.

The statewide figures are not a Cedar County yield estimate, but the shortage of stored moisture matters most to fields without irrigation. Irrigated crops can receive water when rainfall fails; rain-fed crops must depend on precipitation and whatever water remains in the soil profile.

Nebraska’s crop ratings also show stress, although they include both irrigated and nonirrigated acres. USDA rated 59 percent of the state’s corn in good or excellent condition Aug. 16, while 16 percent was rated poor or very poor. Nationally, 60 percent of the crop was rated good or excellent, compared with 71 percent one year earlier.

Soybeans were in somewhat better condition. USDA rated 63 percent of Nebraska soybeans good or excellent, while 10 percent were poor or very poor. Nationally, 61 percent of the crop was rated good or excellent, compared with 68 percent one year earlier. USDA’s Aug. 12 production forecast provided another warning sign. The agency projected Nebraska’s average corn yield at 183 bushels per acre, 5.7 percent below 2025. Total corn production was forecast to fall 12.8 percent, partly because fewer acres are expected to be harvested.

County Attorney Ron Temple told commissioners he was not aware of any legal barrier preventing the county from entering into an interlocal agreement with villages to provide zoning enforcement.

The discussion centered on the distinction between zoning creation and enforcement. Under the proposed arrangement, Cedar County would provide zoning assistance while the villages would retain final authority over decisions affecting their communities.

Temple recommended the communities have an attorney represent their interests while the agreement is drafted.

Commissioners then approved a motion directing County Zoning Administrator Tim Gobel and Temple to draft an interlocal agreement between Cedar County and the villages of Magnet, Obert and Belden for zoning enforcement.

The discussion stemmed from questions about the county’s historical practice of providing zoning services in some smaller communities without formal interlocal agreements. County officials said the county previously handled zoning and building permits in communities including Magnet and Belden but discovered there was no formal agreement authorizing the practice.

In other business, commissioners approved Resolution 26-13, granting preliminary levy authority requests from the Cedar County Agricultural Society and area fire districts. The preliminary requests do not establish the districts’ final budgets but give them authority to proceed with their requested levy amounts as part of the budgeting process.

A liquor license for BV Buds dba The Station was approved by commissioners.

Also during the Aug. 11 meeting, Highway Superintendent Carla Schmidt announced the county’s new weed superintendent Terry Jueden will serve as the county’s new sign technician as well.

Commissioners also heard from county resident Tony Walz regarding ongoing drainage and runoff concerns associated with a nearby feedlot. Walz said runoff has entered his property following rain and raised additional concerns about manure being carried onto county roads.

Commissioners said much of the runoff issue falls under state environmental regulation rather than county jurisdiction. They discussed whether any portions of the problem involving county roads or rights of way could be addressed locally.

Also during the meeting, commissioners declared old courthouse lighting equipment as surplus, allowing it to be sold.

The board approved five conditional use permits for the splitting of five or more acres for a new or existing residence. Permits approved were for Julia Wiebelhaus, Pct. 8, for plotting off house from farm and new tract for future residence; Marsha Gubbels, Pct. 19, for plotting off house from farm land; Jessica Fischer, Pct. 9, for plotting off land for residence; Skyles Kinkaid, Pct. 10, for business; and Kyle Wiepen, Pct. 1, for splitting off house from farm.

The board also approved three building permits for Jared Kohls, Pct. 15, for a grain leg; Patrick Luze, Pct. 6, for a shouse; and Jessica Fischer, Pct. 9, for a house and garage.

Commissioners went into executive session at 11 a.m. for the discussion of possible litigation.

RECOGNIZED FOR

WHAT WE DO BEST.

HARTINGTON — Area residents have a chance to win big this year as the Cedar County News celebrates a big anniversary.

This week's issue features the start of the annual Cedar County News Football Contest. This marks the 63rd year in a row the newspaper has sponsored the contest. To celebrate the occassion, the News is doubling the prize money to win this contest. Anyone who correctly guesses the winners in all 41 games in this year's weekly contest will win $150 — twice as much as in the past.

The contest games and rules can be found inside this week's News. All entries must be delivered either to the Cedar County News office, mailed or emailed to the office before 5 p.m. Friday of each week. If the majority of high school games are played on a Thursday, then the deadline is moved up a day.

After years spent raising her family and serving as a substitute teacher, Traci Baller is returning to the classroom full time as Holy Trinity Elementary School’s new sixth grade teacher.

Originally from Plainview, Baller has lived in Hartington for the past 21 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Wayne State College in 2003 and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Doane College in 2007.

Baller previously taught third and fifth grade in Creighton for four years before stepping away from full-time teaching to raise her children. For the past nine years, she has served as a substitute teacher at Holy Trinity, working with students from preschool through sixth grade.

She said the faculty at Holy Trinity inspired her to return to teaching full time.

Baller said she is especially excited to teach in a faith-centered environment where prayer and worship are part of daily life.

“I feel incredibly blessed to be part of a school where I can attend Mass, participate in prayer, Adoration, Benediction and other faith-centered activities,” she said.

Her goal is to create a classroom where students feel loved, valued and excited to learn, while growing academically and spiritually.

Beyond academics, Baller hopes her sixth graders embrace their role as leaders within the school by living out their faith through kindness, respect, compassion and service to others.

“I want my incoming sixth grade students to know that I have been praying for each of them all summer,” she said. “I hope they are excited to begin a new school year and are ready to embrace their role as leaders at Holy Trinity.”

Baller said she looks forward to helping students grow in both their faith and character as they prepare for their next chapter at Cedar Catholic.

After 18 years in education, Katrina Kathol is beginning a new chapter as the reading specialist at Holy Trinity.

While Kathol moved frequently as a child in a military family, she said Nebraska is the place she considers home. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Wayne State College in 2008 and a master’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2012. She has also completed additional coursework in English language learning and behavior modification. Throughout her career, Kathol has taught every grade from preschool through sixth grade, except for fourth grade. She said her students have been her greatest teachers. “Every year I learn new things, am challenged in new ways and get to fine tune how I teach,” she said.

Kathol said she is excited to openly share her faith while working with students in small groups and helping them build confidence in reading by identifying and developing their strengths. Beyond academics, Kathol said she hopes students leave her classroom with resilience, confidence and a stronger relationship with Jesus. She said Holy Trinity’s opening for a reading specialist felt like the right opportunity at the right time. “God knew was he was doing,” Kathol said, adding that previous experiences working with Principal Staci Uttecht reinforced that feeling.

For her future students, she offered a lighthearted promise.

“Weird teachers build character,” she said. “Get ready to build that character!”

Sydney Jelinek is beginning her teaching career as the new sixth grade literacy and science teacher at HNS.

Originally from Lincoln, Jelinek graduated from Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, in May 2026.

Jelinek said her passion for serving others and helping children grow inspired her to pursue a career in education.

“I have always had a love and passion for serving others and helping people grow as individuals,” she said.

Jelinek said she is excited to have her own classroom where she can establish routines while building relationships with a new group of students.

She said she believes students learn best when they feel physically and psychologically safe and are comfortable making mistakes without fear of judgment.

“I believe that a great teacher challenges students in their learning and then celebrates students’ success, no matter how big or how small,” she said.

Beyond academics, she hopes students leave her classroom with confidence, respect for others and the understanding that they are more than a test score or letter grade.

Although teaching sixth grade will be a new experience, Jelinek said she looks forward to incorporating students’ interests into lessons to help keep learning engaging.

She said HNS’s welcoming atmosphere reminded her of her own high school and made the district feel like home.

“I absolutely have loved the small town so far and can't wait to explore more! I can't wait to meet so many new people!”

Jelinek shared a welcoming message for all students: “I can’t wait to meet any students within the school. Don’t be afraid to stop by my class, say hello and ask questions. I would love to meet you and grow a connection.” Charlie Schroeder is returning to familiar surroundings as the new K-6 STEAM teacher at HNS. A Wynot High School graduate, Schroeder went on to earn his bachelor's degree from University of South Dakota in May 2026. Schroeder said his experiences attending area schools, including HNS, inspired him to pursue a career in education.

Schroeder said he is most excited to meet students and build positive relationships with them throughout the school year. “I’m a believer that every student shines in their own way, and it is my job to help these students find what they love to do,” he said. He believes a positive classroom begins on the first day by creating a welcoming environment where students know their teacher is excited to be there and ready to help. As he prepares for his first year, Schroeder joked that organizing a classroom filled with STEAM supplies may be one of his biggest challenges.

“My room is full of supplies and materials,” he said. “I am working on becoming more organized and I plan on using many, many labels to help remember where everything is.”

Schroeder said he was drawn back to HNS because of his positive experiences there and the opportunity to teach close to home.

“Growing up, I always loved my time at Hartington Public,” Schroeder said. “Once I graduated, I wanted to move back close to home and I saw that they had an amazing job up for grabs and I couldn't be happier that I was able to take it.”

He said he hopes to build strong relationships with families, local businesses and the community.

To his future students, Schroeder shared a simple message: “I can’t wait to start the school year with you. It’s gonna be great.” Meghan Kratzer is joining HNS as a fifth-grade teacher and will also teach fifth- and sixth-grade math.

Originally from Litchfield, Kratzer graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2022. She previously taught third grade in Ansley for four years before making the move to Hartington.

Kratzer said growing up around educators, including her mother, inspired her to pursue a career in teaching. She also credits her small-town upbringing and attending the same school from kindergarten through high school with shaping who she is today.

“I love being hands on and having fun, while having high expectations for the students,” Kratzer said. “I always tell my students, ‘We have to get our work done first, and then we can do all the fun things that make school exciting.’” Kratzer said she believes great teachers are passionate about helping students succeed and works to build relationships with students both inside and outside the classroom.

Beyond academics, she hopes students leave her classroom with greater confidence and stronger character.

She said the positive atmosphere within the elementary school was one of the factors that attracted her to the district, and she is looking forward to meeting families and becoming part of the community.

“I am looking forward to meeting everyone, and I am excited to help the students become the best version of themselves that they can be,” she said.

To her future students, Kratzer shared an encouraging message.

“I am excited to meet you,” she said. “We have a lot of fun planned, and I can’t wait to learn right along with you.”

Kati Hahne is bringing 13 years of experience in special education to her new role as elementary counselor at HNS.

Originally from Coleridge, Hahne graduated from Wayne State College in December 2013. She previously taught special education at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge for 13 years.

Hahne said she was drawn to education because she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and help them grow in many ways.

She said great educators are patient, consistent and flexible while continuing to learn themselves and understand that every student is different and may require different kinds of support to be successful.

“Relationships come first,” Hahne said. “When students know you care about them and believe in them, they are more willing to take risks, make mistakes and grow.”

Beyond academics, Hahne hopes students develop confidence, responsibility and respect both inside and outside of school. She also wants them to feel comfortable trying new things and learning from mistakes.

“There are always going to be challenges no matter where you go,” Hahne said. “Just take one day at a time with an open mind.”

Hahne said the strong sense of support and collaboration among HNS staff attracted her to the district.

To her future students, Hahne offered a message of encouragement.

“I want my future students to know that I believe in them, even on the days when they may not believe in themselves,” she said. “My classroom will be a place where mistakes are part of learning, kindness matters and everyone belongs.”

Ainsley Nelson is beginning her first full-time teaching position as the new 5-12 band instructor at HNS.

Originally from Brookings, S.D., Nelson moved to Wausa during elementary school and graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., in 2025.

Nelson said she was inspired to become a teacher by the educators who influenced her growing up and by her lifelong love of music.

“I had amazing teachers that I looked up to and decided to follow in their footsteps with a subject I absolutely adored,” she said. “Music is such a blessing, and I hope our students find as much joy as I have.” Although this is her first full-time teaching position, Nelson previously served as a long-term substitute teaching K-5 general music and middle school and high school choir. Nelson said she is excited to watch students grow musically throughout the school year while building relationships with them in a welcoming, smalltown school.

Her teaching philosophy focuses on creating a respectful classroom where students develop creativity, teamwork and confidence while balancing structure with enjoyment.

Beyond academics, Nelson hopes students leave her classroom with stronger friendships, teamwork skills and a greater appreciation for creativity.

Nelson said Hartington Newcastle’s closeknit atmosphere attracted her to the district. “A school that has a community that cares about the school district, teachers that know each individual student and pride that comes with it is indescribable,” she said. Nelson is looking forward to cheering on the Wildcats at athletic events and guiding students through their musical journeys.

To her future students, Nelson offered a simple message: she is excited to get to know them, help them grow as musicians and discover what motivates them throughout their school careers.

Hayes Miller is beginning his first teaching position as the new industrial technology teacher at HNS.

Originally from Elgin, Miller has lived in Hartington since 2022. Outside of school, Miller enjoys hunting, golfing and spending time with his daughters.

Miller said he was drawn to education because he wanted to pursue work with a sense of purpose while building connections with students, families and the community.

“I feel education and making connections with students and families in the community serves a great purpose,” he said.

As a first-year teacher, Miller said he is looking forward to getting to know his students and bringing a hands-on approach to the classroom.

Industrial technology will give students opportunities to work with welding, carpentry and other projects, and Miller said he is excited to see what they can accomplish.

Miller said his existing ties to Hartington and having his own children attend school in the district attracted him to the position. He said he looks forward to building more connectiosn with students, parents and other community members.

As a family-oriented person, Miller said he hopes to work closely with both students and their families throughout the school year.

To his future students, Miller offered encouragement as they consider their own paths.

“It’s never too late to start something new,” Miller said. “Don’t be afraid to take that risk.”

Joseph Mazour is joining Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools as the new 7-12 physical education teacher.

Originally from Vermillion, S.D., Mazour earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota in 2018 before completing a graduate degree at Mount Marty University in 2021. Mazour comes to HNS for his third teaching position. In addition to teaching, he will coach boys cross country, junior high football and high school track and field.

He said his passion for inspiring others, combined with his love of physical activity and athletics, led him to pursue a career in physical education.

Among the influences that have shaped his approach to teaching is the book Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck, along with his experience serving as a graduate assistant coach at Mount Marty University.

“My time in graduate school as a graduate assistant coach at Mount Marty University played a pivotal role in developing my leadership skills and refining my approach to teaching and coaching,” he said.

Mazour said he is especially looking forward to coaching multiple sports and working with student-athletes in the weight room. He is also excited to teach strength training, a course that was not available in his previous school districts. Mazour believes successful educators share a genuine passion for teaching, care about students’ well-being and focus on what they can control. He also plans to hold students to high expectations while bringing positive energy into the classroom each day. His advice for students is to treat others with dignity and challenge themselves to improve every day.

While he expects learning every student’s name to be one of his biggest initial challenges, Mazour said he values making those personal connections.

He said Hartington-Newcastle’s size, quality facilities and welcoming staff and administration stood out to him during the hiring process.

Mazour wants parents to know they can expect fairness and consistency.

“I will treat and coach every student fairly, and I hold all students to a high standard,” he said. “I truly believe every student can succeed if they are willing to put in the work.”

The Middle Mile Infrastructure facility will be located 800 feet west of the intersection of Highway 81 and 888 Road, toward Constance.

Sam Davis, a representative of Middle Mile Infrastructure, said the station will be part of a private, long-distance fiber optic network. The facility will help maintain the quality and speed of signals traveling along hundreds of miles of fiber optic lines.

Plans call for two prefabricated equipment shelters, two emergency backup generators and load banks. The site will be enclosed by an 8-foot chain-link fence topped with barbed wire.

The Cedar County Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the permit 7-1 Monday, subject to several conditions.

Those conditions include a requirement the permit not be transferable and that all plans and permits be filed with the county zoning administrator.

Generators may operate during power outages and for testing, while routine generator exercise and maintenance will be limited to 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Noise from the facility will be limited to 65 decibels from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and 55 decibels from 10 p.m.-7 a.m., measured at the applicable property lines.

Middle Mile also will be required to submit a decommissioning plan. The permit will expire if the approved use does not begin within 12 months or if the use is discontinued for 12 consecutive months.

One of the most debated conditions involved screening the facility from neighboring property.

The Planning and Zoning Board required one row of trees around the compound in addition to privacy slats in the fence.

Davis told commissioners the company may appeal the tree requirement, citing maintenance concerns and arguing the fence slats would provide adequate screening.

Nearby resident Ray Keiser supported the requirement.

Keiser, who serves on the fire department and said his home is about 215 yards from the proposed site, said he would prefer trees around the facility.

He also questioned whether heavy rainfall could cause runoff from the site onto neighboring property.

Davis said Middle Mile operates several similar sites that have been in use for four to five years without reported runoff problems.

He said the company uses weed-barrier material and spot treatment to control vegetation and reduce potential runoff concerns.

Julie Meirose also addressed commissioners, saying she remained concerned about the project despite efforts by the company to address issues raised at previous meetings.

“They have tried to comply with most of the things that were my concerns,” Meirose said.

Her larger concern, she said, is that Middle Mile Infrastructure is a private business that would not provide direct services or bring additional business to Cedar County.

Meirose also questioned whether posting a contact number at the facility would be sufficient if neighboring property owners encounter problems with the site.

“A number on a fence where you can call when you have problems, to me, is not adequate,” Meirose said. “It’s not the same as a problem with your neighbor.”

Davis explained the station is not intended to provide a local internet connection. Rather, it is part of a private network supporting longdistance fiber routes and services such as cloud computing.

That explanation prompted additional questions about where the network runs and what other communities have similar facilities.

Davis said the route being considered for Cedar County is a new build extending north from the Omaha area toward North Dakota. He said the company has other stations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, as well as in the Phoenix area.

Davis said similar stations have been operating since approximately 2022 or 2023, with some routes containing six to eight stations.

Commission Chairman Richard Donner said he would have liked more information about the route and the locations of other stations.

“It would be nice to know where the route is,” Donner said.

Davis said the route is still being developed.

The commissioners also questioned the project’s potential economic impact on Cedar County. Davis acknowledged that the network would not have direct local connections but said the station would support cloud services and other network operations.

Donner initially made a motion to table the conditional use permit until the board’s next meeting, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Commissioner Dave McGregor made a motion to approve the permit, and Commissioner Mike Meier seconded it. The motion carried.

The approval allows Middle Mile Infrastructure to move forward with development of the amplifier station, subject to the conditions attached to the permit.

HNS Supt. A.J. Johnson told school board members Monday everything is ready to go for the start of the new year.

The high school carpet installation and completion of a new parking lot south of the school were the two major proj ects at the HNS facility this year. Work on the parking lot was completed in early July, Johnson said.

Also Monday, the Board approved two transfers from the general fund. A transfer of $50,000 was made for the activities fund and $50,000 was transferred into the lunch fund.

The Board also held state-mandated special hearings for: the Committee on American Civics; the district’s student fees policy; and the school's parental involvement policy. The board reviewed the policies and approved them without changes. The board also reviewed the 26-27 student handbook and approved it without changes.

A contract for Jackie Loecker to continue her duties as the school nurse was also approved. Loecker works two-and-one-half days a week for Hartington-Newcastle School and two-and-one-half days a week for the Bloomield School District. She also teaches a CNA class for HNS students.

At its July meeting, the school board approved a proposal for the Newcastle Village Board to rent the former Newcastle School. Johnson said the village board has not approved the plan yet, though.

The board also appointed Andrew Zach as the school vehicle inspector.

The next Hartington-Newcastle School Board meeting is set for Sept. 14, at 5:30 p.m.

The annual celebration will offer a mix of family activi ties, shopping, food, games, music and community events throughout the day.

The day will begin at 7 a. m. with a 5K, 1-mile race and fun run hosted by REPS Fitness. Participants may pre-register at the Hartington city office.

Downtown shopping will take center stage later in the morning, with a vendor market scheduled from 9 a. m.2 p.m. and sidewalk sales offered by local businesses throughout the day.

Youngsters will have plenty to keep them busy, with a children’s zone and carnival, human foosball and nine square available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

A patriotic-themed kiddie parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools campus, followed by duck races at 11 a.m.

Car enthusiasts can take in a car show from 10 a. m.-2 p.m. near Accura HealthCare.

The afternoon will include water activities and a foam party from 2-3 p.m.

Food trucks will begin serving at 11 a. m and remain available until midnight.

The day will close with the Hard Patch Street Dance from 7 p.m.-midnight. Entertainment will include College Radio, James and Langston Christensen and Kevin Kathol and Friends.

Hartington Dayz shirts are available for $20 at Etched Impressions. Vendor market registration is available by calling 402-254-6353.

The Hartington Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event and is also looking for additional volunteers to help with activities throughout the day. Anyone interested in lending a hand is encouraged to contact a Chamber officer for more information.

HARTINGTON — Northern Cedar County voters will now have a decision to make on who will represent them on the Cedar County Board of Commissioners.

A late petition filing by Ed Lammers has turned another Cedar County Commission race into a contest, while two newcomers stepped forward before last week’s deadline to fill vacancies on area village boards.

Lammers filed by petition in July to seek the District 1 seat on the Cedar County Board of Commissioners.

Lammers will challenge current Cedar County Board Chairman Dick Donner, who filed for another four-year term in January.

The District 1 race had previously appeared headed for an uncontested election.

Several changes have also been made farther down the local election ticket since the Cedar County News last reported on candidate filings. Savanah Capatch filed July 24 for a seat on the Belden Village Board. She joins incumbent Janice Wobbenhorst in seeking one of three available seats. In Coleridge, Steve Slattery filed July 31 for one of two seats on the Village Board. He is the only candidate listed for the two positions.

Fordyce has two candidates seeking three available Village Board seats. Incumbent Mikenna Kleinschmit is seeking another term and Cade Bailey has also filed.

Incumbent Terry Pinkelman is the lone candidate for two available seats on the Wynot Village Board.

In Magnet, incumbents Chris Albrecht and Miriam Albrecht have both filed for the two available four-year terms.

No candidates filed for the three positions up for election on the St. Helena Village Board.

The deadline for village board incumbents to file was July 15, while non-incumbents had until Aug. 3.

One change was also made in the Randolph City Council race.

Janelle Biernbaum, who had filed in February for one of two council seats, withdrew from the race July 31.

Incumbents Aaron Nielsen and Daniel Korth remain on the ballot along with challenger Alicia VanDe-Walle.

The mayor’s race remains unchanged, with incumbent Dwayne Schutt being challenged by former Randolph City Administrator Ben Benton.

The general election will be held Nov. 3.

Several other election deadlines are approaching before the Nov. 3 general election.

Candidates seeking a nonpartisan office by petition have until 5 p.m., Sept. 1, to file. The Nebraska Secretary of State has until Sept. 11 to certify the candidates, offices and issues appearing on the statewide ballot. Early voting ballots must be ready for mailing by Sept. 28.

Nebraska residents who still need to register to vote have until Oct. 16 to register online, by mail or through the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Voters may register in person at their county election office until 6 p.m., Oct. 23.

Cedar County conducts its elections entirely by mail, so registered Cedar County voters will automatically receive a ballot. All completed ballots must be received by the Cedar County Clerk's Office no later than 8 p.m., Nov. 3, to be counted.

So much so that shortly after graduating from Newcastle High School in 1975, she went right back to one.

Koch applied for a job at Hartington Public School and never left.

Now, 51 years later, the longtime head secretary at Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools has decided to retire.

A public retirement reception will be held in her honor from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Hartington Golf Course clubhouse.

Koch has played a vital role at the school over the years, Supt. A.J. Johnson said, not only because of her office and organizational skills, but also because of the friendly voice on the telephone and warm smile that greeted generations of students, staff members and parents.

“She has meant so much to so many of us. She has taken care of all of us,” Johnson said.

Johnson recalled experiencing that caring nature firsthand when he arrived in Hartington as a new teacher 29 years ago.

“My very first week of school here, she came into my room during lunch because I had just been eating in my room,” he said. “She said, ‘I just wanted to make sure you were eating. You know we make school lunch here and we’ll just bill you for it.’

“I started eating here every day after that. She was always doing things like that — thinking of others.”

Johnson said no matter what was happening in Koch’s own life, she was always willing to help someone else or simply listen.

“She’s been a kind heart — a sister, mother, grandmother figure to a lot of kids over her 51 years,” he said. “I just can’t thank her enough for all of her years of service.”

Koch’s career did not begin quite as smoothly as it eventually appeared.

Johnson said Koch has recalled being completely lost during her first few months on the job as teachers approached her looking for supplies and answers she did not yet have.

She said, ‘Teachers came up to me needing something from the storeroom and I didn’t even know where the storeroom was,’” Johnson said.

She figured it out. Over the next five decades, Koch went from trying to find the storeroom to becoming the person generations of students, teachers and administrators turned to when they needed help.

Audrey McCray, a longtime paraprofessional at the school, has been hired as a new secretary to help replace Koch.

A late petition filing by Ed Lammers has turned another Cedar County Commission race into a contest, while two newcomers stepped forward before last week’s deadline to fill vacancies on area village boards.

Lammers filed by petition in July to seek the District 1 seat on the Cedar County Board of Commissioners.

Lammers will challenge current Cedar County Board Chairman Dick Donner, who filed for another fouryear term in January.

The District 1 race had previously appeared headed for an uncontested election.

Several changes have also been made farther down the local election ticket.

Savanah Capatch filed July 24 for a seat on the Belden Village Board. She joins incumbent Janice Wobbenhorst in seeking one of the available seats.

In Coleridge, Steve Slattery filed July 31 for one of two seats on the Village Board. He is the only candidate listed for the two positions.

Fordyce has two candidates seeking three available Village Board seats. Incumbent Mikenna Kleinschmit is seeking another term and Cade Bailey has also filed.

Incumbent Terry Pinkelman is the lone candidate for two available seats on the Wynot Village Board.

In Magnet, incumbents Chris Albrecht and Miriam Albrecht have both filed for the two available fouryear terms.

The deadline for village board incumbents to file was July 15, while non-incumbents had until Aug. 3.

One change was also made in the Randolph City Council race.

Janelle Biernbaum, who had filed in February for one of two council seats, withdrew from the race July 31.

Incumbents Aaron Nielsen and Daniel Korth remain on the ballot along with challenger Alicia VanDe-Walle.

The mayor’s race remains unchanged, with incumbent Dwayne Schutt being challenged by former Randolph City Administrator Ben Benton.

The general election will be held Nov. 3.

Several other election deadlines are approaching before the Nov. 3 general election.

Cedar County conducts its elections entirely by mail, so registered Cedar County voters will all automatically receive a ballot. All completed ballots must be received by the Cedar County Clerk’s Office no later than 8 p.m., Nov. 3, to be counted.

Candidates seeking a nonpartisan office by petition have until 5 p.m., Sept. 1, to file.

As she prepares to welcome her first class of second-grade students this fall, Kiley Laible is looking forward to cre ating a classroom where students feel supported, valued and excited to learn.

Laible, a first-year teacher at Ran dolph Public Schools, graduated from Wayne State College in May 2 026 with a bachelor’s degree in K-6 elementary edu cation. Originally from Emmet, she graduated from O’Neill Public High School and gained classroom experience through student teaching, substitute teaching and a long-term substitute position in Norfolk.

“I’ve always loved working with chil dren and making a positive difference in their lives,” she said. “Watching students gain confidence and discover they can do hard things is what inspired me to pursue teaching.”

Her student teaching experience, completed in fourth grade at Westside Elementary, played an important role in shaping her approach to education.

“It gave me the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students, work alongside an incredible mentor teacher, and see firsthand how a caring and encouraging classroom can help every child succeed,” Laible said.

As she begins her own classroom, Laible said her main focus will be building strong relationships with students and helping them develop confidence.

“I believe every child is capable of learning and deserves to feel valued, respected and encouraged,” she said. “My goal is to create a classroom where students are challenged, supported and inspired to do their best while developing confidence and a love of learning.”

Laible plans to incorporate handson learning, collaborative activities and educational technology when it enhances instruction. She also hopes to create opportunities for students to think critically, solve problems and learn from one another.

“I hope my students leave my classroom with confidence in themselves, kindness toward others, strong problem-solving skills, and the understanding that making mistakes is part of learning,” she said.

She said Randolph Public Schools stood out because of its welcoming atmosphere, supportive staff and commitment to student success.

“I’m excited to get to know the stu dents, families and community members who make Randolph such a special place,” she said. “I’ m looking forward to becoming involved in the school, building lasting relationships and giving back to the community that has welcomed me.”

For the students who will soon walk into her classroom, Laible has a simple message.

“I can’t wait to meet each one of you, ” she said. “We’re going to learn, grow, laugh and have fun together this year. My classroom is a place where you’ll always be encouraged to do your best, ask questions and be yourself. ” After spending her own school years as a student at Randolph Public Schools, Mi chaela Casey is returning to the district this fall with the goal of creating the same positive ex periences for a new generation of students. Casey has been hired as the district’s new seventh- through ninth-grade science teacher. Originally from Randolph, she graduated from Concordia Uni versity Nebraska in 2018 with a bachelor of science in exercise science and is currently working toward a master’s degree in curriculum and in struction through the same univ ersity.

Although this will be Casey’ s first classroom teaching position, she said her experiences growing up in Randolph helped inspire her to pursue education. “I am excited to be a positive role model for the young kids in our community,” Casey said. “I loved growing up in Ran dolph and I believe a lot of that had to do with my experiences at Randolph Public Schools.” She said she hopes to provide students with the same encouragement and support she received from her own teachers and coaches. Casey said her teaching phi losophy will center on creating a student-focused classroom where students are actively involved in their learning. As a middle school science teacher, she plans to incorporate hands-on experiences to help students better understand concepts.

Beyond science, Casey hopes her students develop qualities that will serve them outside the classroom.

“I hope students leave my classroom motivated to help others and show each other respect and kindness,” she said.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Casey will also help coach junior high girls sports. Athletics played an im portant role during her time as a student at RPS, and she said she is excited to return to the competitive environment.

“I am looking forward to getting back into the competitive action of sports and hopefully instilling hard work and dedication in the girls I work with,” she said.

After two decades in the steel industry and multiple retirements from teaching, Lowell Brown still isn’ t ready to leave the classroom.

Brown is preparing for his first full school year in the district after joining Randolph Public Schools in January as the district’s high school science teacher. Brown said the opportunity to return to education once again was one he couldn’t pass up.

“This is the third time I have been called out of retirement,” Brown said. “I have been truly blessed being allowed to continue in this profession.”

A northeast Nebraska native, Brown graduated from the University of Nebras ka at Omaha in 1983 before spending 20 years working for Nucor Steel in Indiana. After retiring from the company, he returned to Nebraska and taught science for five years at Cedar Catholic before retiring again. He later spent a year teaching at Emerson-Hubbard before another retirement, only to answer the call once more at Randolph.

Brown said the district initially needed a long-term science substitute, but once he returned to the classroom, he realized he wanted to continue.

“As I experienced the satisfaction of being back in the classroom, it was an opportunity I had to say yes to,” he said.

Brown believes one of his greatest strengths as an educator is connecting science lessons to experiences students can relate to.

He often draws on lessons learned during his years in the steel industry, where small changes in temperature and chemical treatment could dramatically alter the properties of steel. Brown said those experiences help students better understand how science applies beyond textbooks.

Beyond academics, Brown hopes students leave his classroom with an appreciation for how the world works and how different factors are connected. While he acknowledges tech nology presents new challeng es, he encourages students to think critically and solve problems independently. For his students, Brown offers a simple reminder. “The most precious commodity in our lives is our time,” he said. “Each of us has been given an unknown q uantity. Don’t waste it, because none of us get to stay. ”

After joining Randolph Public Schools in January, K-12 art teacher Stacey Frisch is preparing for her first full school year with a simple message for students: Everyone is an artist.

Frisch, a Madison native, graduated from Wayne State College in December 2025. Randolph marks her first teaching position after completing student teaching assignments at Stanton and Humphrey Public Schools. “I grew up always being the kid that the other kids came to for help on their homework,” Frisch said. “My teacher was the first one to say that I would be a fantastic teacher one day.” Teaching art to students from kindergarten through high school has been one of the most rewarding parts of her first months in the district.

“I’m excited to have students at all ages,” she said. “It’ s amazing to see experienced students trying new things, practicing techniques and growing their abilities, but also see students trying art for the first time and hopefully falling in love with art.”

Frisch’s teaching philosophy centers on encouraging creativity and helping students build confidence in their artistic abilities.

“A lot of people think that they are bad at drawing, but everyone is an artist,” she said. “Everyone can learn how to draw, paint or sculpt, and the best artists are the ones who are creative, keep practicing and keep challenging themselves.”

She works to create a welcoming class room by reminding students that mis takes are simply opportunities to make their artwork even better.

Last year, Frisch introduced “Mystery Artist Monday” for elementary students, giving them the opportunity to learn about famous artists and their work. She plans to continue the activity this school year while helping students explore new techniques and develop their own creativity.

“Being creative takes you far beyond the art classroom,” she said. “No matter what you do in the future, being creative and having an artist eye is helpful. ”

Work has begun on phase one of the project, which focuses on renovating the baseball field in hopes of bringing Legion baseball back to Laurel.

“We were trying to find a way to get the Legion back,” Laurel Youth Rec board member Phillip Nelson said. “We had enough kids that wanted to play for next year. The way that the field was, it had a bunch of holes in it that (made it) just unsafe.”

What started as plans to rework the outfield quickly grew into a larger project.

“We were originally just going to redo the outfield,” Nelson said. “The outfield came need ing a new fence because if we’ d leveled it and done all that, we were just going to have to put in a new fence, and it kind of snowballed from there.”

Phase one of the renovation project includes dirt work, underground sprinklers, grass seeding and a new perimeter fence. Dirt work will be completed by Schmitt Construction. Harrington Services will install the sprinkler system, with additional local assistance expected.

While the baseball field is the focus of the first phase, the softball field will see improve ments in later phases. Because extensive renovations, including new fencing, were completed recently, future softball upgrades will concen trate on lighting, covered seating and additional spectator seating.

The project’s second phase shifts focus to the player and fan experience, with plans for a crow’s nest, batting cages, a sound system and bleachers at the baseball field, along with lights for the softball field.

Plans also call for construction of a third playing field.

Nelson said the idea moved up the priority list after discussions with coaches revealed increasing competition for field space. Legion teams play multiple nights each week while baseball and softball teams from tee ball through 14U also practice during ev ening hours.

Fundraising for the project began about two and a half weeks ago, and board members have been meeting with local businesses to discuss sponsorship opportunities. The board so far has raised $120,000 of its $500,000 goal.

Larger donations may include naming rights for amenities such as dugouts or the conces sion stand, Nelson said. Residents interested in contributing are encouraged to contact Nelson, Brian Gould, Kari Patefield or another L aurel Youth Rec board member.

Nelson said the project is ultimately about providing children with a safe, high-q uality place to play while demonstrating the commu nity’s commitment to its young athletes and pride in its facilities.

He also credited the Laurel Youth Rec board for the work behind the scenes, singling out Michael and Kari Patefield for the time they have devoted to planning and fundraising while noting that every board member has contrib uted through meetings, phone calls and other efforts.