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March 22, 2023
HARTINGTON — Bond was set at $1.5 million for a Laurel man who landed in jail after allegedly stalking a Laurel family and violating a protection order. Another protection order was granted against 26-year-old Jackson Metheny contacting another family member who was not covered under the previous protection order.
Judge Douglas Luebe signed the protection order and set the matter for hearing April 5. Metheny’s next appearance on the new criminal charges is set for March 22. According to court documents, Metheny sent a social media friend request to an individual who had a valid protection order against him last week. He also allegedly was sitting in a vehicle near the residence, which violated his bond conditions on other cases. His criminal charges extend back to last summer when he entered into the same family’s Laurel home without permission and was in a young woman’s bedroom.
March 22, 2023
LAUREL — Lack of childcare in the community creates challenges and is a growing concern for Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School’s employees and their families.
It’s also become an increasing issue when it comes to recruiting candidates for jobs at the school. “One of the very first questions that is researched and asked by prospective employees has to do with the availability of childcare,” Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen said. Several staff members take their children to childcare located outside of the school district in other communities, which can create its own challenges when a child becomes sick during the day. Or, when a school-aged child needs care on non-school days.
March 22, 2023
BELDEN — A piece of history has disappeared from the landscape here.
The Belden school, which stood in the southeast corner of the town for nearly a century, was torn down earlier this month.
Ed and Heather Reimers, who own the property, had a crew come in from March 4-11 to demolish the structure.
Since it was in such poor condition, they were afraid someone would get hurt.
“You can have ‘No Trespassing’ signs up, and people are still going to trespass,” Heather Reimers said. “It was getting dangerous just because some of the floor – the third floor — was falling in. We just didn’t want anybody to get hurt.”
March 22, 2023
LAUREL — Students will have a longer than usual summer break after changes to the school calendar were approved by the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School Board at its regular meeting last week. Students will end the 2022-23 academic year on Friday, May 12, instead of the originally scheduled day of Wednesday, May 17.
Even with frequent cancellations and late starts due to inclement weather this winter, students will have met the required number of hours to be in school, Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen said. The school calendar for 2023-24 was also approved by the board, including a later start date in the fall of Aug. 16, five days later than last year’s start date to allow flexibility related to the school’s construction project. It also accounts for regular early dismissals on Wednesday afternoons to allow for teacher collaboration, professional development and other activities. The 2023-24 academic year calendar can be found on the school website.
DEATHS
Marietta L. Linn, 84, Laurel, died March 17, 2023, at Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel.
March 22, 2023
KEARNEY — The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Speech team attended the Class C1 State Speech meet last week in Kearney. Delaney Hall made it to the final round for State and brought home third place for her speech, which attempted to persuade people that CPR should be a graduation requirement for Nebraska high school students. As a team, LCC finished in 17th place at the Class C1 meet. David City claimed the team title and Boone Central took runner-up honors.
March 22, 2023
COLERIDGE — The American Legion Post #114 and the American Legion Auxiliary Post #114 held their meetings March 6 at the Coleridge Community Building. In new business, the Auxiliary has two candidates for Girls State. Maddie Tarno and Cheyenne Walker. Jacie Burbach and Vicky Gullicksen interviewed the two candidates and the report was sent on to Girls State.
March 22, 2023
LAUREL — Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School held their National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on March 14. Twelve new inductees joined the group. They are; Emma Sohler, Clara Brummels Bradyn Urwiler, Carter Korth, Koby Detlefsen, Seth Cross, Baylie Graf, Tali Erwin, Ava Christensen, Lainey Schutte, Rachel Rasmussen, and Alexys Hahne.
March 22, 2023 KEARNEY — Class C All-State Band was held Saturday, March 18, at Kearney High School in Kearney.
Class C band students from all across the state of Nebraska sent in auditions to be considered for State Band. The following Laurel-Concord-Coleridge band members auditioned for and were accepted into State Band: In the junior high band: Madyson Campbell alto saxophone and Jolynn Kinkaid batter percussion. In the Symphonic Band: Seth Cross alto saxophone; Craig Karnes mallet percussion; Edgar Marin tuba and Emma Sohler bass clarinet (third year at state band). Wind Ensemble: Derek Nelson batter percussion (second year at state band). Derek was rated first chair in the top band for batter percussionists in Class C in the state. Each LCC State Band member received a state band medal.
March 22, 2023
LAUREL – With spring now arriving on the calendar, swimming pool season cannot be too far behind. The Laurel City Council on March 13 approved changes to admission rates at the community’s swimming pool for 2023. The rate per family for a season pass will be $130, up from $110 last year. The rate per individual for a season pass will be $65, up from $55 last year. For a person without a season pass, the daily rate is $5. The council also approved an ordinance to raise residential sanitation rates by approximately 30 cents per customer. The council tabled a resolution on Spruce Street assessments until next month, when there will be a public hearing. In old business, the council waived the remaining readings of a water restriction ordinance and approved it.
March 29, 2023
HARTINGTON — A Laurel woman accused of murder appeared briefly in Cedar County District Court here Monday morning. Carrie Jones’ attorney, Nate Stratton, offered three exhibits to be included in his latest filing — a plea in abatement. The exhibits included a journal entry of the case being bound over to district court, the complaint filed against Jones and the complete transcript of Jones’ preliminary hearing last month. The latest legal maneuver is essentially an appeal of the county court’s determination of probable cause found at her preliminary hearing. As part of the plea in abatement, Stratton alleges at the Feb. 15 preliminary hearing, the prosecution failed to present complete evidence the crime was committed and failed to present sworn testimony on all elements of the crimes charged. The filing asks for an order abating the proceedings and dismissing the pending charges against Carrie Jones.
DEATHS
Harry R. Olson, 97, Laurel, died March 27, 2023, at Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel.
March 29, 2023
LAUREL — Four Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Bears earned honorable mention All-State by one publication in Nebraska recently. Jake Rath, Tyler Olson, Carter Kvols and Gibson Roberts were named to the Nebraska Class C2 All-State Honorable Mention list by the Omaha World-Herald over the weekend. “Naturally, all four of these guys were very instrumental in what successes we had this season,” LCC boys basketball coach Todd Erwin said. “We didn’t end up where we wanted to be at the end of the year, but these guys put in the effort.”
March 29, 2023
LAUREL — Dirt work began last week at the front of the Laurel-Concord- Coleridge School building. School officials say the addition and expansion project at the school is moving along right on schedule. Current plans are to have students in some of the new classrooms early next school year.
April 5, 2023
HARTINGTON — A Cedar County District Court judge dismissed a Laurel man’s motion to quash sections of the death penalty in his case as his prosecution moves forward. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Jason Jones, 42, for the murders of Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford, Dana Twiford and Michele Shankles-Ebeling on Aug.
4, 2022, in Laurel. Jones’ lawyer, Todd Lancaster of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, filed a motion to quash sections of Nebraska’s death penalty as unconstitutional, and that matter was the subject of a February hearing. In the five-page ruling issued Thursday, Cedar County District Judge Bryan Meismer covers each of the defense claims, denying the motion to quash in its entirety and dismissing the motion. “At this time, the Court finds that the defendant has failed to meet the burden of proof that no set of circumstances exists under which the death penalty statues would be invalid or that the law is unconstitutional in all of its applications,”
April 5, 2023
HARTINGTON — Cedar County residents are known to be mostly friendly folks. There’s a general willingness to lend a helping hand whenever possible whether that’s bringing in a neighbor’s crops, buying a raffle ticket at the church bazaar, and a myriad of other ways in which residents give daily of themselves for the betterment of their communities and its people.
Some acts of generosity are easy, simple. Others require more forethought and planning. April is National Organ Donation Month — an entire month to raise awareness for a gift that makes a profound impact. There’s a tremendous need for donors across the country, state and even in our own backyards. People who are on an organ waiting list typically have end-stage organ disease that significantly impacts their quality of life and could even be near the end of their life.
April 5, 2023
COLERIDGE — This year’s winners of the Coleridge American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Essay Contest are Nora Specht, first place, Bryson Urwiler, second place, and Mason Kort, third place. All three students are sixthgraders at LCC Middle School. Specht’s first-place essay qualified for her to participate in the district competition.
Each year the American Legion Auxiliary sponsors an Americanism Essay Contest for students in grades 3-12.
The Carl Korff Unit #114 American Legion Auxiliary of Coleridge recently promoted the Americanism Essay Contest with the middle school students at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge. The American Legion Auxiliary program promotes patriotism and responsible citizenship. The essay title was “What Does Patriotism Mean to You?”
April 5, 2023
WAYNE — LCC students recently took part in the Lewis & Clark Art Show. Only seven elementary pieces can be entered, 10 junior high pieces, and 25 high school pieces. The LCC Elementary ended the show with three first-place ribbons, three second-place ribbons, and one third-place ribbon.
April 12, 2023
HARTINGTON — A Cedar County Court judge denied the request for a protection order to a Laurel man whose family has been harassed by a neighbor. The Laurel man had sought protection against Jackson Metheny, 26, Laurel, who has been convicted of stalking his family. Luebe stated in his order of dismissal that the petition and evidence offered at a hearing last week failed to establish the necessary basis for issuing the protection order. Every other member of the Laurel family has a valid protection order against Metheny. Metheny is awaiting sentencing in district court later this month on the stalking convictions.
April 12, 2023
RANDOLPH — The Randolph School Board extinguished its existing co-op with Laurel-Concord-Coleridge and the joint boys wrestling team under the name Quad County Northeast Blaze.
But those embers may be stoked again at a later time. The Randolph School Board did not take any action on entering into a boys wrestling co-op agreement at its meeting Monday night which essentially means high school boy wrestlers will be wrestling under the school colors and the Cardinals mascot next year. The board had several other options for co-ops including a renewal of the co-op agreement with LCC, a two-year co-op agreement with Osmond, or a two-year agreement with both to form a three-school co-op.
April 12, 2023
COLERIDGE — Robyn Hansen’s compassion and generosity was felt every day by her family and her friends, and her care extended to her community. Active with her five children, Hansen was the mom who baked the birthday treats. She was the Sunday School teacher, the volunteer chaperon on school field trips and even participated right along with her children in arts and crafts. As a family, the Hansen’s enjoyed many trips to the zoo, camping and water parks, as well as to Green Bay Packers games, Robyn’s favorite team. They dressed in costume together at Halloween. Robyn died suddenly of a heart attack on Sept. 30, 2019, leaving everyone who knew her reeling with incredible loss, clutching to those memories of a life lived with humor and grace. With continuous support from the Iowa Donor Network, Robyn’s family donated most of her internal organs.
April 12, 2023
LINCOLN — Several LCC students attended the Nebraska FCCLA Conference. While there, students participated in educational and leadership sessions as well as competed in a number of categories, earning medals.
Emma Sohler - Gold Runner-Up and National Qualifier in Fashion Construction Skylar Swanson - Gold in Focus on Children Kennedy Hall - Silver in Event Management Chelsea Potts - Sixth in Health Care Administration Delaney Hall - Honorable Mention in Job Interview
April 19, 2023
LAUREL – Delaney Johnson and Madi Tarno are set to attend American Legion Auxiliary Cornhusker Girls State from June 4-10 at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Junior Cheyenne Walker was selected as an alternate who would go if Madi is unable to attend. Delaney, the daughter of Mike and Andrea Johnson of Concord, is being sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary in Laurel to attend Cornhusker Girls State. “I’m really excited to go to Girls State,” Delaney said. Madi, the daughter of Robbie and Lindsey Tarno of Coleridge, is being sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary in Coleridge to go to the event, a nonpartisan government education program.
