HARTINGTON - The case of Henry Kaiser, 14, and Clarence Shove, 22, charged with entering a school building in St. Helena and doing much damage to the property was heard in county court Friday.

A jury composed of Joe Ernst, A. P. Johnson, J. H. Edwards, Hans Peterson, Theodore Nelson and Otto Wiley were sworn in and the case started about 11 o’clock.

The state, represented by County Attorney Millard, introduced four witnesses, Laura Stratmann, former teacher of the school, Miss Marena Lubeley, teacher of the school, Emma Betz and Effie Derby.

The examination and crossexamination of two witnesses were completed before noon. Following the dinner hour, Effie Derby was recalled to the witness stand. She was followed by Emma Betz.

The state had failed to develop anything that would convict the boys and County Attorney Millard made this statement to the court and asked the case be dismissed without prejudice.

Attorney Burkett, who was the attorney for the defendants, objected and asked the judge enter on the docket the defendants’ objection and they insisted on the case being submitted to the jury. The case was dismissed.

The case was brought on a complaint filed by Fred Hassmann, William Schaller and William Schmidt, charging Kaiser and Shove, together with Emma Betz, 15, and Effie Derby, 16, with breaking into the school house and doing considerable damage to the property.

The four young people were arrested by Sheriff Peter Clarence and brought before Judge Bryant on Tuesday and the boys were arraigned for Friday court. The girls were placed in charge of Mrs. Peter Clarence and will be taken before the juvenile authorities.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - At the meeting of the board of education of the Hartington school district on Monday evening, the old members met early in the evening and finished up the business of the past year, after which the retiring members, G. E. Anderson and R. J. Richards, withdrew, and the new members, Elmer Henry and D. E. Ewing, made their initial appearance.

The new board then organized as follows: Mrs. B. Ready, president; A. K. Lammers, vice-president, and Supt. W. H. Steinbach, secretary.

The retiring board left the scene of their labors with educational matters in good condition; a new course, that of physical education, having been added to the curriculum, and all teachers employed for the coming year.

The new board takes up its duties under most auspicious conditions and, no doubt, much progress will be made during the coming year. This is Mrs. Ready’s second term as president of the board, a position which she fills very acceptably.

The new members of the board are men of wide experience in practical affairs, and undoubtedly will exert a strong influence upon the organization, as the retiring members have done.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - At the monthly meeting of the Hartington Legion post, it was decided to hold a social on the 13th of May. A dance will be held followed by a luncheon and ex-service men and their wives are all invited to come out.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - P. W. Liewer of Randolph, who has been engaged in the clothing business in that city but recently sold out, has leased the north room of the Krause building formerly occupied by Hegert’s hardware store and will open a variety store in the near future.

Mr. Liewer was in the city last week, making arrangements to lease the store, and workmen are now engaged in remodeling it and fitting it up in readiness for the opening. A partition will be built half way back, which will separate the front from the back room and shelving will be put in on both sides of the store.

The proprietor expects to have the store in readiness for his opening in about two weeks. This store will be exclusively variety and a full and complete assortment of these goods will be carried, but it will not carry general merchandise.

Mr. Liewer has a wife and five children and the family will live in the E. F. Morris house which is being repainted and thoroughly renovated throughout ready for their occupancy.

The family is still in Randolph. Mr.

Liewer drives back and forth each day.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - There will be no more Sunday dances at Homewood park according to the proprietor, L. F. Hoese, but dances will be held every Thursday evening with music by a first class orchestra. These week day dances are being well patronized.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - Ted Gildersleeve of this city met with a bad accident to his car one day last week when he was soliciting subscriptions for the “Farmers Wife,” near Pierce.

Mr. Gildersleeve drove up to one of the farm houses, stopped his engine, parked his car and went into the house. In about 15 minutes he returned to find only the steering wheel of his car remaining.

The entire Ford touring car had gone up in flames and its owner was left stranded the other side of Pierce.

Luckily, Mr. Gildersleeve had insurance on the car. He was unable to determine the cause of the fire.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - Work was commenced on the foundation of the new $16,000 rectory which is to be erected at Bow Valley. Henry Stuckenhoff has the contract for the construction of the building.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON - Miss Lillian Ross, daughter of Chas. Ross of Laurel, who has recently graduated from the National Business College at Laurel is now employed by Elmer “Insurance” Henry of this city. She began her duties Monday.

HARTINGTON - Unlimbering his arm this week by tossing mail sacks in the postoffice, Louis R. Eby, mayor of Hartington, prepared to officially open the 1936 baseball season for the local club Sunday by throwing out the first ball of the year. Immediately following this performance, Hartington’s defending northeast Nebraska league champions will tangle with Pierce in a league tussle. Game time is set at 2:30 o’clock sharp.

Taking up where Mayor Eby leaves off, Hugo Uhing, fresh from a baseball school conducted by Joe McDermott, Norfolk state league ball club manager, will be seen in action on the mound for the locals, according to Ray Holman, manager. Behind the plate will crouch Tony Uhing, diminutive backstop of the famous Bow Valley brother battery.

Other positions on the nine will be filled by veterans of last year’s fine club, including the four famous Leise brothers, Len, Otto, Joe and Al; Jack Dwyer, Reg Wurtz, Bob Lind, Kenney Tyler and Carl Samelson. New faces will be seen above Hartington uniforms worn by Lyle Heedum and Bob Garvin, stars of last year’s junior leaguers, Obert Norman, formerly of Pleasant Valley, and Art Arens of Bow Valley.

Among Pierce’s aggregation of ball players will probably be found Carol Gast and Irvin Retzlaff, two of the speediest athletes who ever donned spikes for a baseball club in this section of the state. The slab artist will likely be either the veteran, tobacco chewing McGrady or the speedball hurler, Splittgerber.

May 6, 1936

HARTINGTON - It’s fun to be in the cleaning business, thinks John Thielen. Something is always happening to inject a little fun into the job.

For instance: Last week an excited customer rushed into John’s establishment. “Where are my pants?” he demanded. John gave him his pants, which had not yet been inspected prior to cleaning. Frantically the customer searched the pockets—then heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God, here it is,” he said, and pulled out a false tooth.

Some time ago, Mr. Thielen saw an ad in The News stating a local man had lost his suit. Thielen promptly phoned the advertiser. The suit had been left at Thielen’s to be cleaned and then plumb forgotten about it.

May 6, 1936

HARTINGTON - L. R. Eby, who was elected mayor of Hartington at the last city election here April 7, took over the reins of city government Tuesday evening at the regular biweekly meeting of the city council.

Mr. Eby presided at the second meeting of the evening, the first being conducted by W. H. Pohle, retiring mayor, who has completed his 22nd year served as a city official and his fourth as mayor.

J. C. Roskopf, veteran councilman, was reelected president of the council for the year, 1936. The vote was unanimous. Other members of the council are Jay Shumway, F. G. Breuning, and Frank Spork.

After a brief discussion, it was agreed clerk P. H. Gillespie should be allowed five days after the meeting at which warrants are approved to have them ready for delivery. Warrants will be ready for distribution on Monday morning following the Tuesday meeting, it was decided.

HARTINGTON —The swimming pool which is being constructed by Enoch Israelson on his land near the fair grounds is rapidly nearing completion and will be ready for use before long.

The side walls are completed and work has commenced on the cement bottom. The prevailing dry weather has facilitated construction up to date and the prospect is good for an early opening.

May 6, 1926

HARTINGTON — The junior-senior banquet of Holy Trinity school of this city took place at the Hotel Hartington Tuesday evening.

The table in the banquet hall was artistically decorated in the senior class colors, silver, grey and coral, the table was adorned with pink candles and vases of pink roses were used as centerpieces. The favors and place cards were in pink and white and the menu was carried out in the class colors.

Rev. Ferd Schnuettgen acted as toastmaster and short talks were given by the members of the classes.

After the banquet, the seniors entertained the juniors by reading the class will, class prophecy, class history, singing and the class song. Agnes Huennekens gave the class will, Frederick Dorsey the class prophecy, Leonard Walz the class history and Lucille Hirschman sang a song to the juniors to the tune of Marchetta.

Following the banquet, the seniors and juniors spent a few hours dancing in the basement of the auditorium, music being furnished by two of the members of the junior class, Misses Rose Arens and Laura Hirschman.

The members of the senior class are John Augenstein, Lucille Hirschman, Crescentia Werthman, Susan Wallace, Evelyn Hoesing, Frederick Dorsey, Winifred Whitehorn, Agnes Huennekens, Leonard Walz and Marian Wiebelhaus.

HARTINGTON - Holy Trinity high school’s senior class will don the dipping hemlines and peg leg pants of the “Roaring Twenties” for their presentation of “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay.”

The play will be given in the city auditorium Friday evening, April 6. Curtain time is 8 o’clock.

The three-act comedy deals with the European vacation of two 19-yearolds in the summer of 1923. The two girls, played by Elizabeth Walz and Sharon Dougherty, battle through attacks of measles and bedbugs to find themselves involved in one ridiculous situation after another.

Much of the mirth is provided by their shipboard romance with the wisecracking Dick Winters and the gullible Leo McEvoy, portrayed by Richard Wieseler and Robert Potts. The cryptic remarks of Richard Hochstein and the unconscious wit of Arlene Eickhoff, who are cast as one of the girls’ parents, contribute to the general amusement.

Gene Sudbeck, Dennis Foecke, Anita Feilmeier, Mark Wubben and Betty Schrempp comprise the genial personnel of the ship. The rather eccentric acquaintances of the girls are played by Rose Mary Litz, Kay Rossiter, Geralda Kathol, Frances Hirschman, Charles Frigge and Henry Sudbeck.

April 5, 1956

LAUREL — Edwin Stalder, 61, manager of the Laurel hotel, was killed Friday when he fell from a tractor beneath a plow on the Kenneth Graham farm, 2¾ miles west of here.

Sheriff Ralph Clements and County Coroner Max Goetz investigated the accident.

Mr. Stalder was assisting Mr. Graham in spring plowing when the accident occurred.

Graham, who was operating another tractor nearby, said Stalder had stopped the tractor to grease the plow.

In reaching for the grease gun, Stalder accidentally kicked the tractor into gear and was thrown backward, falling under the plow.

Graham ran to Stalder’s aid and succeeded in stopping the tractor after it had traveled about 75 feet.

Coroner Goetz said death was due to extensive skull fractures.

This was the second fatal farm accident in Cedar county within ten days. Robert Wintz, 49, Randolph farmer, was killed when a loaded farm wagon crushed him March 22.

April 5, 1956

HARTINGTON - Rubin Bird of Hartington had unusual license plates issued him Wednesday by County Treasurer Louis G. Riibe.

They were permanent antique license plates for a 1909 Reo touring car. Riibe said this was the first time he had issued license plates of this type. The plates cost $5 and they are issued to cars 40 years old or older.

The inscriptions “103-NEB” and “Antique” appear on the plates. The auto is in Sioux City now.

HARTINGTON — Being kicked when you’re already down is a feeling most local cattle feeders are experiencing these days. With a combination of a poor cattle market, high grain prices, and threats of drought, local experts agree times are tough, but this can’t last forever.

A spokesman from Yankton Livestock Market in Yankton said producers are dumping cattle as fast as they can get rid of them, since feed costs are so high.

“They are panic selling everything from 300 lbs. to 1,000 lbs. and just cleaning house. If you plan to sell today, you better bring your hanky,” said the spokesperson.

Cedar County Extension Educator Mike Lechner said he was most concerned for cow-calf operators, since the shortage of feed could become a real problem.

May 1, 1996

HARTINGTON — The 1996 Hartington City Soccer program kicked off to a great start last Saturday at the soccer fields at Carcoski Field.

The league, in its second season, will hold games on Saturday mornings through May and into the first week in June.

May 8, 1996

WAYNE — Jeff Thoene, son of Anthony and Carol Thoene, Bow Valley, has received a Board of Trustees Scholarship to attend Wayne State College in the fall. His major at WSC is undecided.

In high school, Thoene has been active in the National Honors Society. He is a member of Who’s Who, has served on student council and participated in football, basketball and track.

Tibor Moldovan, who lives with his guardians Kevin and Sandy Uhing in Hartington, is a winner of one of the 1996-97 Prestige Scholarships at Mount Marty College for this coming September.

Moldovan plans to major in computer science.

The Presidential, Trustee and Benedictine Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen who have at least a 3.5 high school grade point average or an ACT score of 26.

A formal presentation will be held at the Crofton City Auditorium beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by an open house continuing until 7 p.m. The proposed project would reconstruct the intersection into a roundabout.

NDOT officials say several options were considered. This design is being considered due to crash trends at the location, with roundabouts identified as a way to reduce both the frequency and severity of accidents while improving traffic flow.

The meeting will include information on how roundabouts operate and what the changes could mean for the community.

Following the event, project information will be available online at ndot.info/32409.

Questions about the project can be directed to NDOT at ndot.PublicInvolvement@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-4567.

Across Nebraska and many American cities, policymakers are debating the future of historic preservation and cultural funding.

Recent proposals to reduce or restructure the Nebraska Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund, a fund that supports arts and humanities programs across the state, as well as eliminate the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit, have raised broader questions about how communities value and sustain cultural heritage.

As regions grow and redevelopment pressures increase, questions emerge about which historic places and objects should be protected, how preservation policies should function and be funded and what role cultural heritage should play in modern development.

These debates often focus on economics, zoning and property rights. Yet one crucial piece is frequently overlooked: cultural heritage is not simply about buildings, sites, artifacts or nostalgia. It is about identity.

Historic places and artifacts connect communities to their past, anchor them in the present and provide the physical framework through which shared stories, traditions and collective memory are carried into the future.

I have spent much of my academic and professional career researching cultural heritage and identity, including how the protection or destruction of heritage shapes community strength in both stable societies and war zones. Across vastly different contexts, the same lesson emerges: When heritage is lost, communities lose pieces of themselves, their memory and their resilience.

In areas experiencing conflict, this reality becomes exceptionally clear. Cultural heritage is deliberately targeted during war because it represents the identity and continuity of a community. When historic monuments, religious sites, museums, archives and objects are destroyed, the goal is not simply physical damage. It is an attempt to erase memory, weaken social bonds and undermine the structure that holds a community together.

Museums, archives, historic sites and cultural organizations serve as stewards of memory, preserving the physical and cultural record that communities depend on to understand themselves. Historic buildings, archives, artwork, artifacts and traditions serve as physical reminders of who a community has been, what it is now and what it will become.

The state’s current policy discussions are not theoretical. Nebraska has already experienced what happens when heritage disappears.

In the late 1980s, Omaha’s Jobbers Canyon Historic District was demolished to make way for a major corporate redevelopment project. The district contained 24 late-nineteenth- century warehouse buildings and represented one of the most significant historic warehouse districts in the Midwest. Despite a national preservation campaign to save them, the buildings were demolished. The loss was historic in more ways than one. The demolition of Jobbers Canyon remains the largest loss of a National Register historic district in U.S. history.

What was dismantled was not merely a set of old structures. Jobbers Canyon represented a tangible link to Omaha’s identity as a transportation and commercial hub. The warehouses communicated the story of railroads, immigration, trade and the economic forces that built the modern Midwest.

Once destroyed, that narrative became harder to see, harder to feel and harder to pass on.

While Jobbers Canyon was lost through redevelopment, today many historic places and artifacts survive because preservation policy and public investment make rehabilitation and continuity possible. When protected and used thoughtfully, heritage becomes a powerful engine for renewal.

Across Omaha, neighborhoods like the Old Market and Benson demonstrate how cultural heritage shapes vibrant modern communities. Historic architecture, restaurants, music venues, galleries and festivals create a sense of place that cannot be easily replicated. The preservation of culture has become a foundation for economic vitality.

Throughout Nebraska, small towns offer similar examples. Wilber’s annual Czech Festival draws 30,000 to 50,000 visitors each year, celebrating heritage through food, music and community traditions. The city’s historic downtown with the Wilber Czech Museum, Czech Cultural Center, Dvořáček Memorial Library, and Hotel Wilber have provided the foundation for cultural tourism, demonstrating how heritage supports long-term economic resilience.

These examples highlight an important truth. Cultural heritage is not simply about nostalgia. It is infrastructure for identity, community cohesion and economic resilience.

Cultural heritage protection is increasingly recognized at the national and international level as an important component of stability. Globally, the destruction or neglect of cultural heritage is now understood as more than the loss of physical structures and artifacts. It signals deeper fractures within communities and societies.

As a result, cultural heritage preservation has become an important part of international policy discussions surrounding resilience, stability, conflict prevention and humanitarian protection. Protecting heritage strengthens the foundations that allow communities to thrive.

While Nebraska’s preservation debates are far from global conflict zones, the underlying principle is the same. Cultural heritage shapes how a community understands itself, how it stays strong and how it presents its stories.

As policymakers in Nebraska consider the future of preservation funding, historic tax credits, and other tools that support the protection and rehabilitation of historic places, it is worth remembering that cultural heritage is not merely decorative or symbolic. It is part of the infrastructure of community identity and strength.

Cities constantly evolve, and redevelopment is often necessary. But thoughtful preservation ensures growth does not erase the places, artifacts and stories that shaped communities over time. My research examining cultural property and its connection to people has shown repeatedly that protecting cultural heritage ultimately protects something far more fundamental: the identity, cohesion and strength of the people connected to it.

Once lost, heritage cannot truly be replaced.

The question facing communities today is not whether change will happen. It is whether we will continue to preserve the places, objects and stories that help future generations know the past, celebrate the present and carry strength into the future.

Capt. Jessica L. Wagner is a Heritage and Preservation Officer in the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) and director of education and public engagement at the Durham Museum in Omaha.

In 1947, every road leading into Hartington was unpaved — a network of dirt and gravel approaches that turned to mud in the spring and dust in the summer, shaping not just how people traveled, but how they thought about progress.

When Highway 15 between Laurel and Coleridge was rerouted in 1940, the road was blacktopped. But the stretch between Coleridge and Hartington was not — another reminder of how incomplete the region’s road system still was.

Hartington did not have a single hard-surfaced road in 1947.

Transportation, and not just roads, was on the mind of Cedar County residents in 1947. Civil aviation was the coming thing after World War II, and Hartington already had gotten into the act.

In March, that city bought 185 acres of farmland a mile and a half south of town on old Highway 15. Plans called for developing a Class 1 airport with two runways, each 2,200 feet long.

Laurel was not far behind. During the last week of April, a number of businessmen got together and decided that Laurel needed an airport, too.

Luther Einung, a flying farmer who lived northeast of town, was asked to help. Einung said he would attempt to start a flight training school under the new G.I. Bill if funds were available and if he had local backing.

Magnus Hansen, who owned a 60-acre tract east of town, agreed to lease the property for $500 a year. Local businessmen were asked to donate enough to cover the first year’s rent. Einung agreed to cover the rent after that. He also promised to build a hangar for his own plane and assume responsibility for running the project. Laurel’s new landing strip would be ready in May.

Einung’s uncle, John N. Einung, was involved in a more down-to-earth problem. “Since the blizzard and the spring thaws took the bottom out of our roads, gravel is one of the foremost topics of discussion in Cedar County,” Allan Wickett wrote in a letter to the Advocate. Einung’s company would furnish much of the gravel for the country roads in this part of the state. Wickett was in favor of improving the country roads but did not think gravel was the way to go. “When the snow thaws, the gravel roads will revert to mud without continuous maintenance,” he said.

Wickett thought concrete, while initially more expensive, would be the best solution in the long run. “Gravel runs about $800 a mile, and in 10 years each road likely would have to be graveled three times. We can have only so many miles of gravel without making continuous repairs costing more than the taxpayer can bear,” he said.

Asphalt was another option, at least for highways. In April, the Nebraska Highway Department called for bids for 18 miles of asphalt on Highway 15 between Laurel and Hartington. The work was to be divided into two projects — 8.6 miles from Laurel to Coleridge and 9.4 miles from Coleridge to Hartington.

Women and children generally did not go into saloons in those days. So patrons of the Central Bar were surprised when Viola Dalton and her young son made an unexpected visit one afternoon.

Fourteen-year-old Bobby Dalton, who was driving his mother’s 1939 Ford, pulled into a parking space in front of the bar when the brakes suddenly went out. The car jumped the curb and crashed through the bar’s plateglass window. No one was injured.

The baby boom was well underway by 1947. According to the Advocate, Cedar County’s crop of babies was never bigger than in the past 12 months.

In his weekly column, “Ribs by Rog,” Editor Hill noted $443 million was spent on atomic bomb development during the current fiscal year. “It is comforting to believe nothing is going to happen to us while the atomic bomb belongs exclusively to the United States. We wouldn’t use it for anything other than national defense,” he said.

But with the help of a number of American spies, including Klaus Fuchs, Harry Gold, David Greenglass and his sister Ethel Rosenberg, along with her husband Julius, the Soviets would have an atomic bomb by 1949.

Back in the day, twice each year, a debate would break out at the news bureau where I used to work: “Who is going to write the gas tax story?”

It was a story you could write in your sleep. “Nebraska’s variable gas tax is rising/ dropping to … blah, blah, blah.”

But it was kind of important. A rise would mean a couple pennies more paid in taxes per gallon; a drop, a penny or two of a break.

Nebraska’s gas tax is called “variable” because the rate was set based on the calculated needs of state highway construction and maintenance. So it rose and fell, depending on how much work needed to be funded.

Pretty smart huh? Well out in Washington, the smart pills apparently didn’t get passed out because the federal gas tax – another major funder of highway work – hasn’t been changed, up or down, since 1993.

Let that sink in for a moment. Back in 1993, the price of a gallon of gas was about $1 (Wouldn’t we like to return to those days?) and the gas tax was 18.4 cents per gallon, where it’s remained.

If your salary or income hadn’t changed in 33 years, you’d be in a world of hurt when it came to paying bills and affording groceries.

Meanwhile, during that period, the cost of highway construction (concrete, steel, labor, etc.) has skyrocketed. And with the advent of electric and hybrid vehicles, some cars aren’t buying much gasoline and thus, not paying much in taxes.

The federal gas tax is outdated. One recent columnist in the Lincoln Journal Star compared it to “an aging rock star on a farewell tour.”

Congress could have done the wise thing, and slowly increased the gas tax to keep up with the cost of road building.

But such politically risky moves, like raising a tax (even for a good purpose), could get someone defeated for re-election for heavens sake! So that can got kicked down the proverbial road.

Good roads are important, and according to one survey, Nebraska’s highways aren’t as good as they used to be.

In the most recent annual report by the Reason Foundation, Nebraska ranked 29th for condition and cost-effectiveness of its state highway system. That’s down from No. 15 six years ago.

That’s the kind of drop that could get a football coach fired.

Anyway, Congress is apparently debating highway needs, and two columnists recently offered two alternatives to paying a tax on gasoline purchases. An official with the American Highway Users Alliance, which represents automotive and road construction interests, said that taxing vehicles based on their weight would be the best way of providing adequate federal funding for highway needs. Heavier trucks and electric vehicles would pay more, and small compact cars would pay less.

Meanwhile, a co-author of that highway condition report by the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, wrote that a fairer way would be to tax vehicles based on the miles they drove.

This is an important issue for rural residents, who likely put more miles on their vehicles to reach schools, jobs, shopping centers and hospitals.

A new tax would also reduce gas prices, by eliminating the fuel tax, and would help the federal debt because Congress has been using general tax funds to supplement the inadequate federal gas tax.

A tax on weight would be collected when we license our vehicles. The Highway Users guy also argued that it would make heavy-duty trucks – which cause much more wear and tear on highways than cars – more affordable, by supposedly reducing taxes on them. Hmm.

The “tax on miles driven” would seem the fairest, since drivers who use the highways more would pay more.

But how would you collect such a tax? With a government gauge on your odometer?

Sounds kinda “big brother” to me, though four states already have a mileage tax – Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Virginia.

Any new federal tax would require Congress to act, the same group that has allowed the gas tax dilemma to fester.

Let’s hope that they can tackle a real issue. And maybe for an encore, they could work on securing Social Security for the future.

Paul Hammel has covered the Nebraska state government and the state for decades. He is a retired senior reporter for the Nebraska Examiner and the former Capitol Bureau Chief for the Omaha World-Herald. A native of Ralston, Nebraska, he loves traveling and writing about the state.

Paltz will graduate Summa cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in music.

Registered voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday May 12 to turn their ballots into the Cedar County clerk’s office.

As of Monday afternoon, 1,326 ballots have already been returned to the county clerk’s office.

That is equivalent to 47 percent of the votes cast in the 2022 primary election — the last non-presidential primary.

Cedar County Clerk Jessica Schmit reminds voters they need to fill out the back of their envelope completely, including residential address and driver’s license number.

“If these haven’t been completed correctly, our office will be making several efforts to contact the voter to “cure” their ballot envelope,” she said.

The only contested local election in the primary is the election for the District III Cedar County Commission seat currently held by Dave McGregor. McGregor is not seeking re-election.

Kelly Hammer, Justin Heikes and Tim Burbach are all vying for that seat on the GOP ticket. No Democrats filed for the seat, so unless someone files as a write-in candidate, the winner of next week's election will be sworn into office in January.

Results from Tuesday's election will come in after the Cedar County News print deadline, so they will be published Tuesday evening on the Cedar County News website and Facebook page. A special E Edition will also be released with updated election results.

A newly signed state law will reshape how legal notices are published across the state, opening the door for online-only newspapers, expanding digital posting options for government entities and modernizing long-standing requirements that, until now, largely revolved around print publication.

“This legislation is long overdue. Newspapers have been modernizing how they distribute the news for quite some time, now. Modernizing how public notices are published helps our industry continue this modernization process,” said Nebraska Press Association Past President and current Legislative Committee Chairman Rob Dump.

The measure, LB596, was approved by the Nebraska Unicameral and signed into law in April by Gov. Jim Pillen. While the bill touches a number of administrative statutes, its most significant impact centers on public notices and how the public accesses government information.

One of the biggest changes is that Nebraska now recognizes digital-only newspapers as “legal newspapers,” meaning they can publish official notices. Under the law, those outlets must meet several requirements, including having a base of paid subscribers, publishing regularly and focusing on local news and government coverage.

Previously, only print newspapers qualified to publish legal notices.

The law also formally recognizes e-editions — digital replicas of printed newspapers — as valid publications.

That move reflects how many community newspapers already operate, offering both print and online versions of their product.

LB596 does not eliminate the requirement to publish notices in newspapers, but it does expand how those notices can be distributed.

In addition to newspaper publication, public bodies may now have notices posted on a statewide notice website.

The Nebraska Press Association developed the site — www.NePublicNotices.com — a few years ago. The site acts as a database for public notices from across the state and is free to access.

The measure also updates Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act, giving local governments more flexibility in how they notify the public about meetings.

Traditional notice requirements are not disappearing. For example, the State Treasurer must continue publishing lists of unclaimed property owners in legal newspapers, maintaining one of the most visible long-standing uses of public notices.

In addition to notice-related changes, LB596 includes provisions allowing more government records to be stored digitally and updates a variety of administrative processes involving county records and procedures.

For local communities, the impact will likely be a blend of continuity and change. Newspapers will remain a central part of the public notice system, but digital platforms will play a larger role moving forward.

The law reflects a broader shift already underway in the news industry — one that recognizes readers increasingly access information online while still relying on trusted local sources to keep them informed.

HARTINGTON — Several area high schools are planning graduation ceremonies for this weekend.

Cedar Catholic will hold commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Msgr. Werner Activity Center.

The last day of school for Cedar Catholic seniors was Tuesday. Tuesday was filled with activities as a special Mass, Senior Breakfast and a high school awards program were also held that day.

Wynot High School seniors will graduate Saturday night at the Wynot school gym.

Members of the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, and Randolph High School Class of 2026 will also graduate on Saturday afternoon.

Hartington-Newcastle High School is holding its annual commencement ceremonies Saturday May 16.

Commissioners received f0ur bids for the payloader. The low bidder was Murphy Tractor and Equipment Company of Sioux City with a bid of $372,800.

Nebraska Machinery Company, which primarily deals in Caterpillar equipment, put in a bid of $398,500. Titan Machinery bid two different payloaders, a 821G for $347, 483, and a 921G for $369,208.

Commissioners will review the bids to see which piece of equipment might best fit their needs. A decision on the equipment is expected to be made at the May 12 meeting.

Three area landowners were present for a public hearing on the closure of 562 Avenue half a mile south of the 887 and 562 intersection .

County Highway Supt. Carla Schmidt said the road was originally established on Sept. 4, 1896. A portion of the road was officially closed in 1962, she said.

Adjacent property owners said they couldn't remember a time when a fence wasn't across the road, so they've always thought it wa s officially closed.

Schmidt said the road closure was basically a formality since the fence is currently keeping people from using the road.

'It hasn’t been a road for many, many years, but it has not officially been closed,' she said.

Schmidt said that by officially closing the road, the land goes back to the adjacent landowners. Closing the road also releases the county from any liability if someone were attempt to drive on it and get injure d, she said.

She noted she has been approached about closing more of the roa d, but by doing so some property owners would be landlocked. It has been the county's policy in the past not to landlock a property owner by closing a road, she said.

After the hearing, Schmidt told Commissioners the Neb. Dept. of Transportation is planning to do road work on Highway 57 between Belden and Coleridge. That project is expected to begin on June 1, she said. NDOT has future plans to put in a left turn lane at the south portion of the Highway 81-Highway 84 junction at Pleasant Valley.

Cedar County Clerk Jessica Schmit told commissioners she is investigating a more economical employee life and disability insurance plan. She feels their current policy could be improved upon for little or no additional cost.

Commissioners were also informed by Zoning Administrator Tim Gobel of several building permits.

They included:

• Darvin Johnson for a 50x50 pole barn in the Brookey Bottom area.

• Roger Hahne for a 30x24 addition to a shed in Pct. 13.

• Todd Hahne for a 50x31 shop and 50x33 living space in Pct. 13.

• Haymaker Farms for a 48x24 horse barn and indoor feed area in northwest Cedar County.

• Robert Brummels to replace a grain bin damaged in a 2025 wind storm.

• Jason Harmalink for a 40x48 garage storage shed in Pct. 2.

Emergency Services Coordinator Kevin Garvin also met with Commissioners.

He said the county’s three communication towers need to be inspected every five years. Tower Systems of Rapid City, S.D. does the inspections. They will be in the area soon to inspect towers in Dixon County. He was informed Cedar County could get a cheapter rate if they got their inspections down at the same time.

He also noted battery updates will be needed at the county’s siren sites.

Commissioners also got an update on plans for the June bicycle ride through Cedar County.

One portion of the ride could be held on gravel roads. Garvin has been in conversations with organizers. No additional county support should be needed for the ride, he said.

PARK VIEW HAVEN ACTIVITIES: 

Wednesday, May 6: Rosary/Communion, Arts and Crafts, Chair Exercises, Puzzle Time, Hummingbird Activities, Social Time .

Thursday, May 7: Primp and Pamper, Nail Salon, Arts and Crafts, National Pray Day, Card Club, Social Time.

Friday,May8: MorningCoffee/Daily Chronicles,CurrentEvents,OutsideTime, Movie and Popcorn, Social Club.

Saturday, May 9: Residents Choice, Open Centers, Catholic Mass (TV), Communion to Follow.

Sunday, May 10: Happy Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day Tea, Arts and Crafts/ Open Centers.

Monday, May 11: National Nursing Home Week, Morning Coffee/Daily Chronicles, Chair Exercise, Food for Fun, Crafts, Book Club, Card Club, Social Time.

COLERIDGE MEALS ON WHEELS 

Wednesday, May 6: Roasted Turkey w/Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Caramel Poke Cake, Peaches, Bread/Butter, Milk.

Thursday, May 7: Cheeseburger Macaroni Casserole, Green Beans, Side salad w/dressing, Banana Pudding Cake, Pears, Milk.

Friday, May 8: Bacon Wrapped Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes, Country Blend Vegetables, Peanut Butter Blondie, Apricots, Milk.

Monday, May 11: Beefy Tater Tot Casserole, Green Beans, Country Style Tomatoes, Blueberry Cake, Strawberries, Bread/Butter, Milk.

HARTINGTON SENIOR CENTER MENU 

Thursday, May 7: Country Style Ribs, Baked Beans, Pea Salad, Pineapple, Bun/Butter, Milk.

Friday,May8: Ham,ScallopedPotatoes, Mixed Roasted Vegetables, Seasonal Fruit, Bun/Butter, Milk.

Monday,May10: SwedishMeatballs w/Mushrooms,BroccoliandRaisinSalad, Apple, Bun/Butter, Milk.

Wednesday, May 12: Goulash, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Peas, Fruit Cocktail, Milk.

Much of the discussion centered on a recent report from State Auditor Mike Foley, which was critical of the city’s management of the project.

Hartington resident Rich Pedersen addressed the council, saying his goal was to “settle the dust” surrounding the issue. He asked whether the city would consider hosting a town hall meeting to further discuss concerns raised in the auditor’s report.

Mayor Mark Becker said the council had already provided that opportunity.

“This has been a posted meeting,” Becker said. “I think the people who are interested in this issue are here tonight.”

Becker noted Pedersen had been placed on the agenda in advance, and the topic had been publicly advertised.

Councilman Colin Kathol agreed. “It was on our agenda,” Kathol said. “I would expect whoever had questions about the Skylon project would have been here tonight.”

Pedersen said he was speaking on behalf of residents who believe the city moved forward with relocating and renovating the Skylon Ballroom into a community center despite voters rejecting a $1.6 million bond issue for the project.

Kathol noted he also voted against that bond proposal.

“That didn’t mean I didn’t want a community center,” Kathol said. “I just didn’t want to see my taxes go up any more.”

Becker said the council interpreted the bond vote differently — as opposition to the proposed financing method, not the project itself.

He said the facility is largely being paid for with sales tax revenue and is already generating economic activity.

“Hartington needs a community center,” Becker said. “It’s a real economic benefit to have this facility here. It helps a lot of local businesses.”

Becker said the facility has already booked 18 or 19 weddings, along with several other events, over the next 16 months.

“That brings a lot of people to our town,” he said. 'It gives people another reason to want to move here.

Pedersen said he supports the concept of a community center, but questioned whether the current facility meets that goal.

“The state auditor’s report had a lot of things that seemed pre tty questionable,” he said. “I was not for moving the Skylon, but I was for a community center.”

He said he would have supported a larger, more versatile facility. “I would have been in favor of a $3 to $4 million community cen ter — one that served the community in many ways,” Pedersen said. “Instead of a dance hall — and that’s really what we got here. ”

Former City Clerk Natalie Schaecher also questioned the council, asking about how the facility was budgeted and if they were making any policy changes in light of the auditor’s report.

Several other people also addressed the Council during the onehour and 45 minute meeting. Most of them asking the same q uestions — why did the council push ahead with a project without fi rst getting community consensus.

Becker said the council had three choices — no community center at all; moving the Skylon and expanding it into a community center; or trying to pass a more expensive bond to build a new communit y center.

Becker said since the electorate turned down a $1.6 million bond it was the council’s feeling there was no appetite for an even more expensive project.

Pedersen said local residents are upset that the council pushed this down their throats without giving the public a chance to make their opinions known.

Kathol said the general public really has no idea how much time and effort went into this project.

“This isn’t something we just decided to do on a whim,” he said . “We all put a lot of thought — a lot of time into this. ”

Kathol said if people are dissastisfied with how the council has made the decisions, they should should make an effort and get in volved.

“We’re up here because we care for this community. We want to see it grow and improve,” he said. “I’m not up here to benefit Colin. I’m up here for the community.”

“If so many people are so against the decisions we make, how co me no one filed against me? There are three of us up for election this year, yet no one filed against any of us.”

The filing deadline for this year’s primary election was in March. Kathol, Cody Christensen and Mayor Mark Becker are all running unopposed for re-election this year.

HARTINGTON — Cedar County residents got the chance Thursday to learn more about the three men vying to become the next District 3 Cedar County commissioner.

About four dozen residents attended a candidate forum at the Hartington Public Library organized by the Farm Bureau.

The format allowed each candidate to answer the same questions, along with time for introductory remarks and closing statements. After the forum, candidates spoke one-on-one with voters.

Tim Burbach emphasized from the start that he is running to keep a lid on taxes.

“I’d like to find new ways to hold off this great big snowball of increased taxes, most of it through valuations where the state comes in and says, ‘this is the way it is,’” he said. “I’ve come up with some different ideas on how to offset that. I believe they will work. That is my main goal — to do everything in my power to at least hold the line on where we’re at today for as long as possible.”

Burbach, a former Hartington city councilman, said he reviewed county budgets and expenditures closely.

“My goal was to find at least 10 percent savings, but because my predecessors have done a fairly decent job of holding the line, I found about one percent that I thought was iffy,” he said. “For the most part, the commissioners have done a pretty good job with what they’ve had to work with.”

Kelly Hammer, a Wayne native now living in Coleridge, has worked for both the Wayne County and Cedar County road departments.

He said he wants to ensure everything is done by the letter of the law. Hammer said he initiated a fraud investigation into a Wayne County commissioner that resulted in that official leaving office. He also reported concerns about former District 2 Commissioner Craig Bartels to State Auditor Mike Foley. The audit identified concerns but no unlawful activity. Hammer said he believes that process contributed to Bartels’ decision not to seek re-election.

“I’m all for any fraud that needs to be taken care of — it needs to be completely gone,” he said. “I’m out for the taxpayers 100 percent.”

Hammer added that his road department experience gives him a strong understanding of the commissioner’s role.

“I love working with the Cedar County crew,” he said. “Those guys are capable of getting a lot of work done, and I intend to utilize them to get a lot of roads built and projects completed.” Fellow candidate Heikes, a first-generation farmer who also serves as county weed superintendent, said he believes the current board is doing a strong job managing the budget.

“I don’t see much that could be trimmed,” he said. “The only thing I could see is utilizing things a little more efficiently to try to do more with what we have — just subtle changes like that. I’m not going to say those subtle changes are going to create massive amounts of money, but maybe we could get by with less.”

Hammer suggested one cost-saving measure would be reducing how often county crews mow ditches, noting state statute places that responsibility on landowners.

Burbach said he sees opportunities to generate new revenue, including the possibility of a county-owned gravel pit.

“Right now, we are on the demand side instead of the supply side,” he said. “We’re at the mercy of other suppliers. The prices go up and we say ‘how much? and OK.’ We have no control over that.”

He said owning a gravel source could provide long-term savings and additional revenue through sales to other counties.

“I do not see any reason not to have our own gravel pit,” he said. “The amount of savings over the course of 40 or 50 years cannot be discarded. You need another source of revenue to offset your expenditures.”

Hammer disagreed, saying the available material may not meet longterm needs.

“It might work short term, but not long term,” he said. “We do have issues with gravel prices and trucking costs, but I don’t think using lower-quality material is the solution.” Heikes also expressed concerns about the investment.

“Gravel is expensive. There is no doubt about that. We spend $1.67 million a year on gravel. That is trucking, that is everything all said and done from seven to eight different suppliers. That rock we’re bringing in, that’s washed rock. That’s high quality. If any of those providers we’re working with, start producing a rock that we’re not satisfied with, we have the ability and the right to turn around and drive away.”

Heikes said the county loses that ability if it operates a gravel pit that can’t produce high enough quality rock.

“If a county owns a gravel pit, there is no real way to say how long that lasts. We’re talking infrastructure that we’d have to invest in — conveyors, wash plant, most likely bulldozers and a payloader and most likely more manpower and other insurance. The cost would be pretty extreme to where $1.67 million sounds fairly cheap. With what we have now, we get to pick what we want and how we get it.”

Heikes said Hayes County and Thayer County have their own gravel pits. Hayes County hasn’t mined their gravel pit since 1950, Heikes said. Thayer County just closed theirs down eight months ago and are actively trying to lease it out.”

The candidates were also asked about rural economic development.

Burbach said agriculture remains the backbone of the county and emphasized helping young farmers get started.

“They need all the help they can get,” he said. “I want to make sure the county does everything it can to help them succeed.”

Heikes said while the idea is appealing, the county has limited ability to assist.

“Speaking as a first-generation farmer, it’s very difficult to start farming,” he said. “I don’t see much the county can realistically do, but I’m open to ideas.”

He added that hard work remains the key.

“The only thing you can really do is just work your butt off,” he said.

Heikes said he approaches decisions carefully.

“I’m a slow, methodical thinker,” he said. “I rely on weighing pros and cons.”

Burbach said he seeks input before making decisions, while Heikes noted he would lean on experienced officials for guidance.

When asked about challenges they expect to face as a Commissioner, Burbach pointed to state-level decisions.

“It seems like there’s a trickle-down effect, and rural communities often get the short end of the stick,” he said.

Hammer cited maintaining roads and equipment, along with adapting to state and federal changes.

“Mainly, what keeps things going is having a great crew,” he said.

Heikes said his biggest challenge would be learning the position.

“Quite frankly, none of us has any experience being a commissioner. That’s going to be a big challenge, just learning the job. I’d rely on Dave (McGregor) a lot for advice. All the other commissioners I’ve talked to in all the other counties said it takes one or two terms to really get a grasp on the job,” he said.

HARTINGTON - Between $16,000 and $17,000 a month is coming to Cedar county in benefits paid returned war veterans under the provisions of the GI Bill of rights.

April 25, 1946

HARTINGTON - Alva Olson of Hartington, president of the Cedar County Farmers Union was elected president of the Seventh District organization.

April 25, 1946

HARTINGTON - Donald Forinash, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Forinash and Joe Schulte, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Schulte, will represent Hartington at the Cornhusker Boys State in Lincoln.

April 25, 1946

HARTINGTON - George Kast of Fordyce and E. H. Benson of Randolph were elected to the board of supervisors of the Cedar County Soil Conservation district.

April 26, 1951

HARTINGTON - The Holy Trinity seniors presented their annual class play, “Here Come The Brides,” at the auditorium here Tuesday afternoon and evening. The large crowd present thoroughly enjoyed the farce comedy in three acts.

The situation around which the humor was built came when Jimmy Took, played by Charles Wieseler, had to find a bride in a hurry when he found that his uncle, Dan Took, played by Roland Eickhoff, was to pay a surprise visit to see Jimmy’s bride. He had believed Jimmy had recently married and had sent an increased allowance accordingly.

First Jimmy and his friend, Bill Thompson, played by John Schmidt, tried to get a bill collector, played by Clarence Kast, to impersonate a woman as Jimmy’s bride. Later Bill was forced to accept the role when the bill collector refused. Later he decided to help the boys out and for a time the situation was complicated by the presence of two brides.

The crowd really enjoyed seeing these two boys playing the parts of women. More fun was added to the story by the presence of an escaped crazy woman from a nearby sanitarium, who kept going through the place. Charleen Wieseler played this part while Dorothy Hesse played the part of the nurse.

Others in the cast were Jo Ann Hirschman, Darlene Goeken, Charleen Feilmeier, Jolene Becker and Vera Kathol. Rev. Clement Bracht directed the play.

Between the first and second act the Trinity mixed chorus sang two numbers.

April 26, 1951

HARTINGTON - Cpl. Eugene Hesse, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Hesse, received a commendation from his commanding officer for the rapid progress he has made in acquiring surgical skill under war time conditions. He urged Cpl. Hesse to continue his medical career in college after he leaves the army.

April 26, 1951

HARTINGTON - Sgt. Harold F. Leise writes from Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., there are seven Cedar County boys assigned to C Battery of the 231st Armored Field Artillery Battalion.

“They were sure a surprised bunch of boys when they saw who they had to put up with,” he wrote.

Among the new trainees in this battery is Preston Ward, former first baseman of the Chicago Cubs.

“He caused quite a stir around here in sports circles and is assured of a job of playing with the Ft. Wood baseball team,” Leise said. “But like all the rest of the men, he has to take his basic training and he dislikes it as much as any of the rest of them.”

April 26, 1951

HARTINGTON - Frederick Sherer of Coleridge hit the “jackpot” in an unusual manner in Sioux City last Sunday evening.

Accompanied by Mrs. Sherer and a party of friends, he attended a dance at which Sammy Kaye and his “Swing and Sway” band were playing. One of the features of the attraction was “So you want to lead a band,” for which two men and two women are chosen from the audience to lead Kaye’s band.

Sherer was one of those chosen. He led the band and, by the acclaim of the audience, won over the other three contestants. He received prizes valued at about $100.

HARTINGTON - First communicants at Holy Trinity Catholic church will receive on Sunday May 9.

There will be 43 boys and girls in the class which will have its final instructions this week.

In the class are Julius Arens, Evelyn Arens, Rita Bange, Genevieve Becker, Marcella Bruening, Theresa Burbach, Pete Burbach, Marion and Nell Dendinger, Irene Dresden, Lucille Duman, Dorothy Gubbels, Marcille Haberer, Evelyn Hahn, Marietta Hertert, Victoria Hertert, Irene Huss, Helen Kirschmeier, Bernice Miller, Marie Meyers, Leona Peitz, Irene Stevens, Leon Hegge, Germain Koenig, Albert Hahn, Clarence Huss, Bernard Kirschmeier, Martin Kirschmeier, Owen Koenig, Art Menke, Robert O’Gara, Gerald Patrick, Fred Peitz, Joseph Riibe, Thomas Roskopf, Henry Schindler, Richard Spork, Jerome Schulte, Frederick and Walter Stevens, and Francis Thies.

April 29, 1926

HARTINGTON - Hartington’s Boy Scout Troop will conduct their own summer camp this year, according to Scoutmaster Nelson.

April 29, 1926

HARTINGTON - Edgar Yanacheak, 21, who was one of the trio arrested Tuesday by Sioux City authorities on a charge of stealing hogs, was a former Hartington resident, having driven a stock truck here. According to the story told of the arrest, Yanacheak in company with Milo and Leslie Krueger have brought to light a new method in “rustling” stock.

They were charged with driving from farm to farm, picking up a few hogs at each place and then selling them on the market at Sioux City. Their operations have taken them to all parts of Woodbury county.

They were sentenced to five years each in district court at Sioux City, on Wednesday. The arrest of this trio is expected also to lead to the arrest of the thieves who stole 42 head of pedigreed Jersey cattle from a farm near Leeds. This job was supposed to have been done by motor truck bandits.

April 29, 1926

HARTINGTON - Hartington’s two entries in the District Declamatory contest placed first and second in the Dramatic and Oratorical divisions.

Natelle Millard in the dramatics took first place while Joseph O’Furey in the oratorical placed second.

April 30, 1931

HARTINGTON- The mothers of the Holy Trinity basketball squad are sponsoring an entertainment and supper May 6 at the K. of C. basement to which everyone is cordially invited.

Bridge will be played and the serving of supper will begin at 5 o’clock, at 25c a plate. The proceeds will defray expenses of the basketball team.

April 30, 1931

HARTINGTON- Attorney H. E. Burkett will go to St. Paul, Minn. this week to argue a case before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The case is W. H. Allen, as Receiver of the Hartington National Bank of Hartington, appellant, vs. C. Sophia Collins and Edwin E. Collins, appellees, and is an appeal from the United States district court.

Edwin Collins borrowed $15,000 from his sister-in-law, Sophia Collins, and gave a second mortgage on his equity in a 240 acre farm at Rose Hill. He used the money, it is alleged, to take up bad loans in the bank and the receiver brought an action in district court to have the mortgage set aside.

The case was tried in the district court at Omaha Jan. 3 before Judge Woodrough and the defendant won.

April 30, 1931

WYNOT — Finis was written over the doorway of the First National Bank of Wynot last Thursday when all the books and records of that defunct institution were hauled out to the city dumping ground and burned. These books and records had been stored in the Hartington National Bank building for some time and included the daily cash journal, ledger, letter files, draft register, etc.

Earl Pickett hauled these records of a once flourishing banking house to their cremation, there being two truck loads, and Mayor Anthony Hirschman and M. K. Pollock officiated at the last sad rites.

The stuff made a tremendous fire and some say as the smoke and sparks ascended to the sky, the spirits of departed officers and depositors of the bank hovered near the scene.

The First National of Wynot was closed in 1927 and W. H. Allen was appointed receiver. the closed bank paid several dividends, the assets were sold two years ago.

HARTINGTON — Twins carried off the highest honors in the Cedar County eighth grade examination held in the various towns of the county on Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10.

Irma Reimers, a 13 year old girl in school district No. 107, was the highest ranking pupil in the examination with a grade of 93.1 and Dean and Dale Westadt, 13 year old twin brothers in district No. 49 near Belden, ranked second and third with respective grades of 93 and 92.1.

Velma, the twin sister of Irma Reimers, also an eighth grade pupil, was prevented from taking the examination by an attack of appendicitis. She was in the hospital while the other boys and girls were writing.

The three pupils who stood highest in the eighth grade test were very close. The highest grade was 93.1, the second highest 93 and the third 92.1, only a narrow margin of a tenth separating the highest from her nearest competitor.

A girl carried off first honors, but two boys were close at her heels in the race. There were several other pupils who also scored high, their grades being 90 or above.

The 10 highest ranking pupils and their grades are as follows: Irma Reimers, district No. 107, 93.1; Dean Westadt, district No. 49, 93; Dale Westadt, district No. 49, 92.1; Dorothy Collier, district No. 94, 92; Richard Wintz, district No. 45 (parochial), 91; Clarabelle Mackey, district No. 114, 90.6; Edna Hansen, district No. 22, 90.5; Irene Miller, district No. 7, 90; Bernadette Wintz, district No. 45 (parochial), 89.9 and Katherine Anderson, district No. 7, 89.3.

This was the second of the three eighth grade examinations to be held in 1931. The first was held in January and the third or fi nal one will be held on May 8.

The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Museum of American Speed, 599 Oak Creek Drive, Lincoln.

Attendees will enjoy Passportthemed activities, partner booths and special programming. Discounted admission will be available during the event.

The Nebraska Passport encourages residents and visitors to explore unique attractions, small businesses and hidden gems across the state. This year’s program features 70 stops organized into themed tours. The Passport runs May 1 through Sept. 30. Participants can collect stamps by visiting stops across the state.

Observed on the last Friday in April, Arbor Day has deep ties to Nebraska, and Hartington continues to mark the occasion in a hands-on way. Fourth-grade students from both local schools joined members of the Hartington Tree Board last Friday to learn about the value of trees — and then put that knowledge to work by planting one of their own.

Tree Board members Dan Kathol, Ben Beckman and Esther Larsen hosted the annual event, working with a total of 46 students between the two schools. The day combined history, discussion and practical experience, giving students a chance to see — and feel — how trees take root in a community.

Beckman opened the program with a look back at Arbor Day’s origins, tracing it to Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska newspaperman who championed tree planting in the largely treeless plains of the 1870s. Morton proposed the idea in 1872, and the first celebration led to the planting of an estimated one million trees across the state. From those beginnings, Arbor Day spread nationwide and eventually around the world.

Students then turned their attention to why trees matter today. With a little prompting from Larsen, they quickly rattled off benefits — producing oxygen, providing shade, supplying building materials and food and improving the look and feel of a town.

The highlight came when talk turned into action. Guided by Kathol, students helped plant 10-foot Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple trees at each location. Hartington-Newcastle students placed their tree on school grounds, while Holy Trinity students planted theirs on the church property. Both plantings replaced trees that had previously been removed. With holes already prepared, each student took a turn filling in soil, packing it down, adding mulch and watering the young trees. The trees were later staked to help them stand straight until their root systems take hold. “This is an event I look forward to each year,” Kathol said. “The kids get true hands-on exposure, and hopefully it sparks an interest in trees that lasts a lifetime.” Before heading back inside, each student received a Black Hills Spruce seedling to plant at home, courtesy of the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District. NRD representative Reed Trenhaile distributed the seedlings and reviewed proper planting and care. The annual event is part of a broader commitment to trees in the community. Hartington is marking its 35th year as a Tree City USA, a designation from the Arbor Day Foundation that recognizes communities dedicated to planting and maintaining trees. For one spring morning, though, that larger mission came down to something simple — a group of students, a patch of ground and a reminder that even the smallest trees can grow into something much bigger.

March 1947 did not come in like a lion. Instead, it was more like a mud hen.

“We have had snow, wind, rain, sunshine, fog, sleet, ice, cold, warm and almost hot weather,” said Laurel Advocate Editor Hill. “The warm weather brings mud and makes the side roads almost impassable and our streets sloppy. But don’t worry, spring is just around the corner.“ Due to muddy fields, farm work was behind schedule. Another problem farmers faced was the condition of the country roads. Some farmers reported they had not been able to get their cars home since January. In some cases rural mail carriers had to leave mail with neighbors who lived on passable roads.

A record attendance of 69 persons attended the March meeting of the Laurel Commercial Club. One of the questions discussed was how to improve the farm-to-market roads leading into Laurel.

“Farmers are up in arms over the terrible condition of the roads,“ said the Advocate. Gravel was the answer. Money to pay for it was the problem.

Although the war had been over for more than a year, not all government controls had been lifted. Anyone wishing to build had to submit an application to the Civilian Production Administration office in Omaha.

The housing shortage in this country was far worse in Germany where many small towns and villages had been leveled by U.S. and British bombers during the war. With the lifting of restrictions on mail from enemy countries, Mrs. Edward W. Hesse of Hartington received several letters from relatives in Germany.

One letter read in part: “Words cannot tell the extent of misery into which Germany was plunged by the war. We escaped with our lives, but our ancestral home in Alst, which is also your home, was totally destroyed in December 1944.

“The problem of food is catastrophic. The pangs of hunger we take to bed with us every night are indescribable. To the pangs of hunger is added the suffering from the unprecedented cold which has been with us since Christmas. We lack fuel to combat the cold.

“Were it possible for you to come to Germany, you would not recognize your old home. All the neighboring villages, such as Bergsteinfurt, Rhein, Munster, Cofelt, Dulham, etc., are nothing but scorched earth. “In view of the extreme want we are experiencing, I would humbly ask if it would be possible for you to send us a food package. Should it be impossible for you to help, I humbly beg you to forgive this plea.“ Another letter from a cousin named Lucia Hesse told how her father had died of wounds received in the First World War and her brother had been killed during WW II. “With his death, the family name will die out for he was the last male descendant.

“Misery stalks the land,” she wrote. You cannot imagine the colossal waste and destruction. Westphalia is overpopulated with refugees. Lack of housing is everywhere. But I will not whine before you. I am of the firm belief that our dear Germany will not perish for the core of the German people is still sound.”

Stories of the Holocaust are repeated constantly but stories about the suffering of the German people who had no part in it are rarely mentioned.

Until World War II and again for a number of years afterward, the bombing of civilians was considered a war crime. Guess it all depends on who is doing the bombing.

Some earth shaking news from north of Laurel. The Advocate of March 5, 1947, reported that farm houses north of town were shaken and windows were rattled by some kind of explosion or earth tremor. The incident occurred about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4. The cause of the tremor was never determined.

The Advocate of March 19 featured a new column entitled “As I Remember Laurel.“ It was written by Carl Jeffrey who had lived in Laurel almost from the beginning of the town.

Jeffrey (1885-1969) was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.N. Jeffrey, a blacksmith and one of Laurel‘s earliest residents. Jeffrey claimed his parents came to Laurel from Concord in 1890 but it probably was 1892.

Jeffery’s column contains a lot of good information about the early history of Laurel. This writer wishes he had known about it when he began writing this column back in 1991.

Almost every time I head over to the local work-out joint, there’s some petition circulators waiting.

They scurry up and ask for my signature on a proposed ballot initiative that would make it harder for state legislators to change laws voters have passed at the ballot box.

Nebraska is one of only 26 states that allow voters – if they collect enough signatures to put something on the ballot – to directly pass laws and constitutional amendments, or to repeal such measures via a referendum. Two of our neighboring states, Iowa and Kansas, do not allow for citizen-initiated ballot measures. But we in Nebraska permit the so-called “second house” – citizens – to enact laws and constitutional clauses as a check to either override something passed by the “first house,” our onehouse Unicameral Legislature, or enact something elected officials would not.

The power of the initiative has always been controversial. There’s regularly questions about whether it’s “too easy or too hard to get something on the ballot?” and whether the number of signatures required is too low or too high.

Plus, there are worries about well-heeled, outside interests and whether it’s too easy for them in our small state to get a significant law adopted or changed (I’d argue that is why we have legislative term limits in Nebraska, a truly dumb idea pushed by the wealthy and conservative Koch Brothers).

Anyway, anger has risen in recent months over alterations made by the State Legislature in citizen initiatives that legalized medical marijuana, provided paid sick leave and increased the minimum wage.

Allowing prescriptions of medical cannabis was approved by a whopping 71% of Nebraska voters in 2024, and came after years of unsuccessful efforts by parents of kids suffering from frequent seizures and those who maintain marijuana can help relieve pain or symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

But state officials (including Gov. Jim Pillen, who opposed such legalization) have slow-walked the process of adopting regulations to start distributing cannabis to qualifying persons.

Lawmakers passed a bill earlier this month to allow regulation of prescribing cannabis, but it might be another year before any marijuana actually gets to patients.

And then there’s questions about where doctors will prescribe or recommend medical pot. A bill to give them immunity from lawsuits or disciplinary complaints – say, from someone who still thinks voters were wrong to approve medical marijuana – was blocked by opponents of medical cannabis. So docs will be fair game.

The jury’s still out on whether medical marijuana is effective medicine. People who have tried it for pain relief and to reduce seizures swear by it. But scientific studies are lacking.

Still, I think regulators can keep the stuff – which seems clearly harmful for kids – out of the wrong hands. And the vote at the ballot box was crystal clear – people want the option of marijuana as medicine.

I think we’re in sad shape when state lawmakers can alter something passed by citizens after deciding that “those silly voters” really didn’t mean that.

The State Constitution is pretty clear – the Legislature cannot “amend, repeal, modify, or impair” laws adopted by citizen initiatives, unless they can get 33 votes out of the 49-senator Unicameral.

The petition drive now underway is organized by a group called “Respect Nebraska Voters,” that had spent more than $1 million through the end of March for a swarm of paid petition gatherers and a flurry of mailers reading “When we vote, it’s not a suggestion.”

Their main donor to the campaign – $500,000 — was the Nebraska Donor Alliance, a nonprofit group committed to “democracy building” run by former State Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln. Other major donors are also Nebraska- based groups.

I agree with the Respect Nebraska Voters folks that it ought to be hard for state lawmakers to alter something passed by voters.

But whether the number of votes required by the State Legislature to change citizen-passed laws should be raised from the current two-thirds (33) of the 49-member Unicameral to four-fifths (40) is another question.

Forty out of 49 is a mighty high bar, requiring almost all senators to agree on changes. At least it’s a change the “second house” would have to approve.

Paul Hammel has covered government and the state for decades. He is a retired senior reporter for Nebraska Examiner and the former Capitol Bureau Chief for Omaha World-Herald. A native of Ralston, he loves traveling and writing about the state.

According to the Nebraska Department of Education, schools across our state entered the 2025-2026 academic year with approximately 490 unfilled positions, down from 669 the year before. This tells us something important: The strategies we’ve been investing in are working.

The path forward does not require drastic reinvention. Nebraska doesn’t need to start from scratch. We need to strengthen and scale the programs already making a measurable difference.

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (CEHHS), we get to see at the classroom level what works. From my experiences as a lifelong Nebraskan, a former classroom math teacher and now dean of a college that prepares educators across the state, I truly believe our most effective solutions are practical, data-informed and rooted in local community partnerships.

Nebraska has many talented individuals who feel called to the classroom but can’t pause their careers or uproot their families to pursue traditional preparation routes. Programs for people who already have undergraduate degrees, alternative certification pathways and flexible scheduling options open doors for career changers and community members who already have deep ties to their local schools.

In fact, enrollment in the elementary accelerated pathway has doubled, and the secondary accelerated pathway and special education accelerated program have both tripled in recent years. When we reduce barriers and meet people where they are, we expand the educator pipeline while maintaining high-quality standards and educational experiences for our students.

At UNO, for example, we collaborate closely with school districts and community colleges to align preparation programs with workforce needs. One partnership I am deeply proud of is our Teacher Scholars Academy with Omaha Public Schools. It gives students hands-on experience and a direct pathway to a career.

These partnerships allow aspiring teachers to gain classroom experience early, sometimes as paid paraprofessionals — or as trained classroom support staff who work with teachers — in OPS classrooms. It’s a win-win: Schools gain support, and candidates build confidence and competence in real-world settings.

It’s also important for the taxpaying public to know we can achieve our desired results with targeted investments. Scholarships, loan forgiveness programs and stipends tied to high-need endorsement areas like special education, mathematics and science have demonstrated impact. When we invest strategically, we can address geographic and subject-area shortages. Federal and state funding streams have helped support these efforts, but sustained commitment is essential to maintaining our shared momentum.

I have the privilege of seeing firsthand how university faculty and staff are deeply engaged in preparing educators who are classroom-ready from day one. We integrate evidence-based practices, innovative technology and strong mentoring into our programs. Our work is grounded in research-based practices and strengthened by community engagement, including longstanding partnerships through initiatives like the UNO STEM TRAIL Center.

As someone who has spent decades teaching, researching, and collaborating with schools across Nebraska, I have seen the transformative power of thoughtful preparation and sustained support.

It cannot be stressed enough that teacher shortages are not solely about recruitment to university degree programs or job placement after graduation. Early-career mentoring, professional development and strong school leadership significantly influence whether teachers remain in the profession. Nebraska’s recent improvement in unfilled positions suggests that collaborative retention efforts are beginning to make a difference. Closing the gap on unfilled positions reflects collective effort from policymakers, preparation programs and, most importantly, educators themselves. We should take pride in this progress, but we can’t become complacent.

Nebraska’s students deserve stable, well-prepared teachers in every classroom in rural districts and urban centers alike. Our economy, our communities, and our future depend on it, so let’s double down on what’s working.

Expand flexible pathways. Strengthen partnerships. Sustain targeted financial incentives. Invest in mentoring and retention. Nebraska has never shied away from practical solutions grounded in collaboration and common sense. Addressing our teacher shortage should be no different.

Neal Grandgenett is Lois G. Roskens Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

This tick was first detected in the United States in 2017 and has since spread into a number of states, including Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. While it has not been confirmed in Nebraska as of March 2026, its presence in neighboring states means producers here should stay alert, especially as cattle move onto pasture and spend more time in habitats where ticks are more likely to survive.

What makes the Asian longhorned tick especially concerning is how quickly it can build numbers. In the United States, these ticks appear to reproduce mainly without mating, meaning females can produce offspring on their own. A single female can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs, and under favorable conditions development from egg to adult can happen in about three months. That means once introduced, populations can increase rapidly.

The other major concern is disease transmission. The Asian longhorned tick can carry Theileria orientalis Ikeda, a parasite that infects cattle and causes bovine theileriosis. Infected cattle may show anemia, weakness, poor appetite, lethargy, fever, abortions and in severe cases increased sickness or death. Some animals may show only mild signs, but infected cattle can remain carriers for life. There is currently no direct treatment for theileriosis, so prevention and early detection are especially important.

For Nebraska producers, one of the best things to do right now is simply make tick inspection part of normal cattle handling. When cattle are brought in for vaccinations, pregnancy checking, sorting or other routine work, take a close look around the eyes, ears, neck, brisket, tailhead, udder and inside the legs. Producers should also have a general idea of what to look for. Asian longhorned ticks are very small, about 2 millimeters before feeding, roughly the size of a sesame or mustard seed. They are typically light brown to burnt orange in color, so they can be easy to miss during a quick check. If you find unusually high numbers of very small ticks on one animal, that is worth paying attention to. Because proper identification can be difficult, suspicious ticks should be removed carefully, placed in alcohol, and submitted through a veterinarian or Extension office for confirmation.

Pasture conditions also matter. Ticks tend to do better in taller grass, brushy areas, wooded edges, and moist low-lying sites. Keeping an eye on cattle grazing those environments may improve your chances of catching a problem early. If producers bring in cattle from regions where this tick is already present, those animals should be inspected carefully, isolated when possible, and considered for treatment with an approved tick control product before mixing with the resident herd. Good Beef Quality Assurance practices also matter, since blood transfer through shared needles can spread Theileria between cattle.

If unusual ticks are found, collect several specimens in alcohol and work through your veterinarian or Extension office for identification. The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center can assist with preliminary tick identification, and suspected Asian longhorned tick detections in Nebraska should also be reported to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The bottom line is this: the Asian longhorned tick is not a confirmed Nebraska problem today, but it is close enough that awareness matters. Routine cattle inspection, sound biosecurity and early reporting can go a long way in helping protect Nebraska herds.

— Ben Beckman is a beef Extension Educator based out of the Cedar County Extension office in Hartington. You can reach him by phone: (402) 254-6821 or email: ben.beckman@unl.edu mailto:ben.beckman@unl.edu

Total participation is expected to exceed 7,500. “We never take that for granted. Yet a lot of our signups each year are based on the excitement and inspiration people have experienced or heard about from past events,” said Reid Jensen, Director of Annual Giving for the Avera Foundation.

The Avera Race Against Cancer supports patients with all cancer types. Funds support numerous projects, one of which is the Avera Cancer Institute Navigation Center, a round-the-clock source of comfort and support to anyone whose life has been touched by cancer. This 24/7 call center is offered across the Avera system.

Proceeds also go toward lodging or transportation assistance for individuals or families, screening and early detection, genetic testing, specialized equipment and comfort items, wigs for cancer patients, complementary therapies like massage therapy and Arts in Healing, special events like Cancer Survivors Day, grief support for families and more. All dollars benefit patients and families locally.

The Avera Race is one of the few large events of its kind that offers “week of” and “same day” registrations. “We’ve been doing that for 37 years and will continue to do that,” said Elijah Bonde, Community Giving Manager for the Avera Foundation.

The Race has so many different facets that keep bringing people back. “Many are running enthusiasts who appreciate the chip-timed 5K and 10K races, with awards to top finishers,” Bonde said. Others enjoy getting out for a healthy 1.5- or 3-mile walk on a spring day.

It’s a powerful community moment when people come together to do good for a cause that matters. And for most, the Race is deeply personal. Foundation statistics reveal that 90% of participants are not cancer survivors themselves—they show up for someone they love who is facing or has faced cancer.

People can participate at several levels—as a runner, walker or sideline supporter. They can take part as individuals or join a team. There’s even an option to take part virtually. “We’ve also gained strong support from individual and corporate sponsors,” Bonde said. Sioux Falls Ford is title sponsor for the 2026 event.

“Cancer touches so many lives— including our patients, workers, friends and family members. As health care workers, it’s especially meaningful for us to stand alongside our patients outside the clinical setting and show our support in a visible, unified way. It’s become a tradition that brings our team together for a cause that truly matters,” said Jayna Boeve, Mammography Quality Control Technologist, who leads a team from Avera primary care clinics in Sioux Falls.

“There’s a lot of fun as teams show their spirit. But there’s also inspiration as we recognize survivors and remember those who are no longer with us,” Jensen said. “We see a lot of smiles and hugs but also a few tears.”

Learn more, register or donate at AveraRace.org