LINCOLN — Common sense, along with an ability to work face-to-face with clients, seem to be lacking in regulations being adopted by the Neb. Dept. of Health and Human Services, a group of area residents say.

“Common sense appears to have dried up in Lincoln,” said Fred Steffen, Crofton.

A special investigative legislative hearing was held in Lincoln Aug.12 to address the recent action of HHS and the Developmental Disabilities Services in Nebraska which affects several NE Nebraska families

At the end of a nearly four-hour public hearing, the committee chairman pledged to meet with state officials to seek  a compromise.

BLAIR — Area students now have one less option when it comes to attending a small, in-state college.

Located in Blair, Dana College announced June 30 it would be closing its doors to faculty, staff and students following 126 years of service. After a group of investors made plans to buy the school four months ago, the Higher Learning Commission denied its request for accreditation, which forced the college to shut down.

“This takes away one opportunity for local students to choose a smaller-sized post-secondary educational institution,” said Ken Kneifl, Guidance Counselor at Hartington Public School. “A lot of kids look into those types of places because that’s what they’re used to. They want to feel comfortable and find the right fit.”

Dana had experienced financial problems for several years by accumulating a high number of deficits. Looking to get back on track, the investors who bought the college hoped to convert it to a for-profit enterprise.

HARTINGTON — The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS) may once again have a presence in Cedar County although staff might only be present through appointments.

The DHHS has plans to set up a satellite office in Hartington down the road.

The DHHS office moved out of the basement of the Cedar County Courthouse before the renovation of the Courthouse Complex started a few years ago.

HARTINGTON — Precautions should be taken before heading out in a snow storm – although the best option may be to stay put.

A quick check on weather forecasts before traveling during the winter months is a  good idea according to Cedar County Emergency Management Director Kevin Garvin.

“If weather reports indicate travel is not advised that roads are impassable with large snow drifts – it would be an excellent idea not to travel unless it was an absolute emergency,” Garvin said.

Grella Funeral Planned for Saturday

LAUREL — After more than 40 years, Spec. Don Grella is back in his hometown.

Grella was listed as missing in action after his chopper crashed Dec. 28, 1965.

In April of 2006, about 40 years after the crash, the crash site was discovered near Ah Khe in Vietnam. The site was excavated in March of this year. The remains and artifacts were brought to Hawaii to be examined. The identification of all four crew members was official in June.

On Saturday Grella’s remains were returned home, traveling almost 10,000 miles from Vietnam, to Hawaii, then to Omaha before the final miles home to Laurel.

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 – The earthen scent of freshly turned soil and the dust of time are everywhere around Dennis Arens Sr.’s farm these days.
Dirt piles tower 10 feet in the air at the farm four miles southwest of Hartington. Sweaty men crouch in permanent hunches wielding tiny shovels and brushes, and artifacts get pulled out of the ground like potatoes.

HARTINGTON — Valuations on some properties in Cedar County will take a jump up for 2009.
Close to 5,000 Notice of Valuation Changes will be in the mail by June 1, said Cedar County Assessor Don Hoesing.
Ag land values will go up; crop land values will raise between 10 and 15 percent and grassland will go up around five percent, Hoesing said.
Rural residential property will see an increase but only a portion of the residences in Hartington and some commercial property will need to be raised in value, he said.
“Our sales show the residences in the west part of Hartington need to be raised – values in other towns will not see a change,” said Hoesing. “Some of the commercial properties in Hartington and Laurel will also be raised.”

HARTINGTON — A cemetery in Cedar County, which is close to 140 years old, has recently been registered as a State Historical Site.
Paragon Cemetery, located six miles northeast of Hartington, is one of the few sites in Cedar County that has this special designation.
A Nebraska State Historical Marker, which includes a brief history of the cemetery, will soon be installed and an official dedication of the State Historical Marker will follow the Veterans Memorial Day services at 7 a.m., May 25, at the Paragon Cemetery.

WAYNE — The 125 Cedar, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne County residents who participated in Emergency Response Planning meetings in 2006-08 should feel good about their work to develop a Pandemic Flu Response Plan.
“The Plan” is located on the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department’s website www.nnphd.org . Each county’s Local Emergency Operations Plan is found on the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency website www.nema.gov . These plans provide guidance during a public health emergency such as the H1N1 flu situation now occurring.
Once cases of the new flu virus were found in the U.S., NNPHD initiated daily conference calls with hospitals, clinics, school nurses, County Emergency Managers, Red Cross, and others to share rapidly changing updates. The information originating from Federal and State sources included evolving numbers of cases, protocols for testing for the virus, antiviral treatment recommendations and plans for distribution of the Strategic National Stockpile —  a stockpile of medical and response supplies collected by the federal government for just such a public health incident.

LINCOLN —  Cap Dierks does not act his age.
Every minute of his days at the Legislature are scheduled tight with work for the 76-year-old Dierks.
His light is often one of the first lit during roll call before debate on the floor of the Legislature in the morning.
Dierks, the Dist. 40 Sen., from Ewing represents Cedar, Knox and part of Pierce and Holt counties in the Nebraska Legslature.
It’s a job he loves.