LINCOLN — The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded $400,000 in Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Funds to the City of Hartington to develop infrastructure and seven homes within Phase 1 of the new Westfield Acres residential housing subdivision.

Four of the units within the subdivision will be built for four qualified low- to middle-income homebuyers earning at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Family Income.

Homebuyer assistance will be available to those applicants selected for the project.

HARTINGTON — The Holy Trinity Catholic Church rectory, which has stood here since construction first began on the building in 1911. Plumbing and Electric Service began knocking the building down at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The structure was completely razed two hours later and the debris hauled away by the end of the day.

ST. HELENA — Gene Wuebben has traveled down a lot of country roads and met a lot of kids over the years.

For the last 40 years Wuebben has been driving a school bus for students who rode the bus to East Catholic in Bow Valley, as well as those who shared the ride to other area schools.

The route for East Catholic includes St. James, Bow Valley, St. Helena and Wynot along with a sister school – West Catholic in Fordyce.

The Wynot, St. James, Obert and Newcastle area were hit hard by Thursday's storm.

HARTINGTON — A Thursday morning storm here flooded roads and wiped out crops.
Over two inches of rain fell in northern Cedar County around 8 a.m. Thursday. Hail ranging from tennis ball size to golf ball size also decimated area fields, bringing an end to hopes for a good harvest.

HARTINGTON — Over an inch of rain sat at homeplate and around first base at the Hartington Sports Complex Friday, washing out the planned Midseason Classic Softball Tourney.
Teams from Hartington, Fordyce, Crofton, Bloomfield, Wynot and Wausa had planned to take part in the two-day event.
Because of a packed schedule, organizers decided Monday to try and reschedule the event for the end of the season.

Members of the St. John The Baptist Centennial Committe are: (left to right) Ruth Wiebelhaus, Jean Lammers, Karla Sudbeck, Darrell Lammers, Tom Wiebelhaus, Fr. David Fulton, Jerome Thoene, Don Albers, Lyle Lammers, Marcia Albers, Rhonda Lammers and Marie Haahr.

FORDYCE —   After over two years of planning, Fordyce is ready to party.
Parades, food vendors, baseball and softball, quilt shows, kids games and a prime rib dinner are all on tap this weekend as Fordyce comes together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town’s main industry — the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
The celebration will begin Saturday afternoon with youth softball and baseball games and concessions and activities behind the church.
The annual prime rib supper will be held in the parish center with a 6 p.m. social hour followed by a 7 p.m. meal. This meal is limited seating and through advance reserved tickets only, which can be purchased from parish council members.

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Hartington Chamber of Commerce President Stephanie Scoggan and several Chamber members recently helped Wayne Goeden cut the ribbon welcoming him into the Hartington business community. Goeden recently opened Tri-State Computers at 212 Broadway Street in the Alltel Cell Phone building in downtown Hartington.

HARTINGTON — From the fun-loving Paul Neu in grade school to the high school football nose guard, to “Cannonball Grizzly” to “P.N. News” to Avalanche, to Big “O” Inc., it was not a surprise to some of Paul Neu’s classmates when he became a professional wrestler.
“I remember when we were in about the fifth grade and Paul came over to our house. We spent all afternoon in our basement wrestling,” said classmate Gayle Becker, Hartington. “Paul was always fun-loving, a good guy who never got upset about anything.  He was a lot of fun to be around and always stuck up for you. When he played nose-guard in football (high school), he made it easy for those behind him.”

HARTINGTON – The first rays of the morning sun shining through the dark sky were a welcome sight Sunday morning.
Teams of cancer warriors had completed 12 hours of continuous overnight walking for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, which was held at the Community Complex in Hartington.

“It was a long night,” said Donna Lauer, who is a three-year cancer survivor. “The Relay is having the community come together to show people they really care.”
Tina Derickson, St. Helena, and Jennifer Kleinschmit, Hartington, were the co-chair persons for the Relay for Life, which was a chance to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.
A morning worship service at 6:30 a.m. by Father Jeff Loseke was followed by the closing ceremony and final lap.

HARTINGTON — So long smoke, hello clean air.
A statewide smoking ban takes effect June 1.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments will be working with businesses to help them comply with Nebraska’s new smoke-free law.
Every indoor workplace and public place in Cedar County as well as across the state must be smoke-free by June 1. The act was designed to protect the public health and welfare of people.
Lonnie Sackschewsky, who owns Lonnie’s Bar and Grill in Coleridge and Donavon Kleinschmit, who owns Delmonicos #20 Saloon & Steak House in Fordyce, do not like the new law.
“I don’t think the ban is fair,” said Sackschewsky.
People can currently smoke at most food establishments in the county, but June 1 that will change.

HARTINGTON –  Cedar County walkers will go around the clock in the battle against cancer during the American Cancer Society Relay For Life which will be held in Hartington.
Teams of enthusiastic citizens will gather at the Hartington Community Complex for an overnight relay from 7pm on May 30, 2009 until 7am on May 31, 2009.
This celebration of life brings together numerous groups and individuals concerned about cancer in a unified effort to fight back. The Relay celebrates anyone who has battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost while empowering all to fight back against the disease.