HARTINGTON  — The Cedar Catholic golf team kept its unblemished record alive as they prepare to defend their State Tournament title.

The Trojans easily vanquished the competition, firing a 310 to earn the Hartington Invitational golf title here Tuesday at the Hartington Country Club.

O’Neill finished in a distant second place with a 334, Ponca came in third with a 335.

Nick Lauer shook off a slow start to his season and fired a 69 to easily win medalist honors at the meet.

The brother combination of Cody and Kyle Klug both fired 80s to tie for sixth place, while their cousin, Brett Klug had an 81 to finish eighth.

HARTINGTON — Four Hartington area graduates — Luke Carl, Ryan Donner, Tony Meirose and Jeremy Sudbeck — are back home in Nebraska after spending close to a year in Kuwait.

With a population of around three million, Kuwait is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and lies on the northwestern shore of the Persian Gulf.

Tony Meirose and Jeremy Sudbeck, who are members of the Army National Guard, were deployed to Kuwait with Charlie Battery 1st/147 Field Artillery out of Yankton.

After two months of training at Fort Hood, Texas, the unit had a four day period when they could come home to tell family and friends good-bye before shipping out to Kuwait.

They were based at Camp Arifjan and served as part of a security force for another base.

CROFTON — A Crofton teenager died Wednesday morning in a one-car accident.

Aon April 21 at 7:18 a.m. the Cedar County Sheriff’s Department was called to the scene of an accident four miles south of Crofton on 552 Ave.

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Shawn Potts, 17, Crofton, was discovered at the scene. Potts was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.

HARTINGTON  —  The Wildcats came up one point shy of winning their third straight track invitational during action here last week.

Crofton edged the Hartington boys’ track team 134-133 to claim the Crofton Invitational, which is held every year at the Hartington track.

The Crofton girls also won the team title. The Crofton teams won a total of 13 events to sweep the team titles.

Hartington also finished in the runner-up slot in the girls division, garnering 89.5 points, while champion Crofton rolled with 187 team points.

For the third meet in a row, the Wildcats’ Neil Kramer earned four golds on the day. Kramer won both hurdles events and took top honors in the high jump and long jump, as well. He also set two school records on the day. His high jump of 6-7 became the new school standard. Kramer’s 110-meter hurdle time also set a new school record.

WYNOT — Ryan Boeckman, Justin Boeckman, and Sarah Schulte will all be extending their high school careers for just a little longer.

Ryan Boeckman has been invited to play in the Nebraska 8-Man All- Star football game to be held in Hastings June 19.

He has also been asked to participate in the Nebraska-Kansas All Star football game to be held at Doane College, Crete, June 26.

Boeckman is a three-year All District football player for the Wynot Blue Devils.  He was selected first team on both sides of the ball where he played Middle Linebacker and Offensive Line.  Boeckman was also chosen to be the Honorary Captain of the All District Team on the Defensive side this year and was chosen as a First Team All State selection in the Huskerland Prep Report All State team.

LAUREL   —  Cedar Catholic edged Ponca to claim the Laurel-Concord Invitational here Thursday at Cedarview Country Club.

Cedar carded a 319 to earn a one-stroke decision over Ponca.

“It’s always nice to win the Laurel Invitational as it’s normally full of good competition and this year was no exception,” Coach Mike Johnson said.

Brett Klug paced the local golfers, blistering the course for a 74, which was good enough for a second-place tie with Ponca’s Alex O’Neill. Klug fired a 39 on the front nine, but caught fire on the back nine, carding a 35.

Crofton’s Christian Nohr earned medalist honors, firing a 72 day.

Coach Johnson said Brett Klug started slowly, but then played well.

“Brett started the day at four-over par after he took a seven on a par 3.  He rebounded very well from that rough start and played the next 17 holes at two-under par,” Johnson said.

HARTINGTON — The Cedar County Commissioners have rented office space in Hartington to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The Dept. of Ag will have use of the former State Farm Insurance building, along with some storage space at the County Shop for $750 per month.

“They are renting the facility across the street until the end of May,” said Chairman Fredrick Pinkelman. “They will be doing some herd testing in the area.”

Cedar County had purchased the State Farm facility in 2008 in order to house the County Attorney’s Office during the Courthouse renovation and construction project.

Cedar County Deputy Kathy McKillip and Cedar County Attorney George Hirschbach talked to the board concerning recent vandalism on mailboxes and county property.

HARTINGTON — A land swap between Hartington Public School and Holy Trinity School is becoming a reality.

The agreement will allow for the construction of a street between the two schools to help eliminate traffic congestion. It will also give Holy Trinity a better location for a football practice field, and provide a spot for the Hartington School to have a parking lot.

School board members put their stamp of approval on a memorandum of understanding for the land swap between Holy Trinity and Hartington Public School at the April 19 board meeting.

The street will make a bend in order to allow the portion of land where the catholic convent was previously located to remain under the ownership of Holy Trinity Church.

Each school will own land to the center line of the street, which will exit onto 882 Road.

“It will probably be a one-way street,” said board member Colin Kathol. “It’s to eliminate traffic congestion and for the safety of the students.”

The engineer will meet with the members of the committee within a few weeks, according to Hartington Supt. Randy Anderson

HARTINGTON — Marie Elizabeth Hochstein, 94, Hartington, died April 13, 2010, at her residence, after a short battle with cancer.

Visitation, with a rosary and a vigil service, were April 18 at the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington, and continued one hour prior to services Monday at the church.

Mass of Christian Burial was April 19 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with Rev. Jeffery Loseke officiating.

Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington.

BOSQUE FARMS, N.M. — Jed L. Holmes, 78, a resident of Bosque Farms, N.M., died April 3, 2010.

A visitation and memorial Mass were held at the San Clemente Catholic Church, April 9.

Interment was held at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Jed was born in Foster, in 1931. After graduating from high school, he went into the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country for 22 years and retired a SMSGT. Jed continued his career as a senior physical science technician.

HARTINGTON — Kenneth Pick, 68,Hartington, died April 15, 2010, at Park View Haven Nursing Home, Coleridge.

Visitation, with a vigil service, was Sunday at the church, and continued one hour prior to services Monday at the church.

Mass of Christian Burial was April 19, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with Rev. Jeffery Loseke officiating.