By Deanna Anderson
Cedar County News
COLERIDGE — Carroll Neuhalfen has been building toys and miniature machinery ever since he was a young boy.

Neuhalfen’s latest creation is a one-third scale model semi-truck which he can actually drive.
The semi-truck, which is about five feet high, runs on a two cylinder motor. The horn, lights and flashers all work although the CB aerial is just for show.

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HARTINGTON — The Hartington Chamber of Commerce will hold a Thanks for Franks Customer Appreciation Lunch today.

The event will be held behind Milbrath-Sayler Bookeeping in downtown Hartington.

The meal will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

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HARTINGTON — Cedar Catholic Development Director Joani Potts announced Tuesday the school will be raffling off a 2007 Ford Explorer SUV.

The raffle is being held as a fund-raiser to raise money for a new heating and cooling system at the school. Potts said the vehicle was donated annonymously with the hopes that Cedar would be able to double the value of the $48,000 vehicle.

The raffle will be held at Russ Hochstein Feild on Cedar Catholic’s Homecoming night

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House near Crofton broken into
By Deanna Anderson
As a result of plea bargains two people recently pled guilty to breaking into a home near Crofton.
Thomas Thames, who was being held in the Cedar County jail on Count 1 - Burglary a class III felony and Count II - Theft by unlawful taking, pled guilty to a lesser charge.
Thames was sentenced on July 2nd to not less than six years, nor more than nine years of incarceration at the Nebraska Department of Corrections.
The sentence will be served consecutive to a 2003 South Dakota sentence and parole violation.
The defendant was given 60 days credit for time served.

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MENOMINEE — St. Boniface here was the site of a huge two-day celebration in honor of the 125th anniversary of the church.

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HARTINGTON — For the second time in less than a year, vandals have stolen and destroyed the statue of Pvt. George Shannon.

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By Deanna Anderson
Cedar County News
HARTINGTON  —  Monday night was a busy one for the Hartington City Council.
Representatives from the ambulance squad, senior citizens center, rural fire board and the Q-125 committee met with Council concerning finances.
The Rural Fire Board has issued a bond in the amount of $240,000 for a pumper fire truck.
“Of the $240,000 we have spent $237,000; the balance is in savings. It will be split with the city,” said Jim Potts. “The interest rate over the life of the bond will be 4.229 per cent. It will be paid off in 2013.”
The fire truck will hopefully be here after the first of the year.
Members of the Hartington ambulance squad along with an employee of Yankton County offered information to encourage the Council to raise the fees for an ambulance call.
Cathy Cuka, who files claims in South Dakota for ambulance calls, said the city could be receiving a higher amount from Medicare recipients.
“Medicare considers Hartington a super rural community. They base the amount they will pay on this,” said Cuka. “You could increase the amount you get by raising your rates. Medicare is federal funds that you are entitled to.”
Yankton County currently charges $500 for the lowest base rate plus mileage for an ambulance call.
After reviewing the information on the amounts Medicare is allowed to pay, Mayor Bill Yates seemed to be in favor of raising rates on ambulance calls.
“I can see we have not been charging enough,” said Yates.
There is a down-side to raising rates to meet what Medicare will pay, though.
The rates will take a jump for every ambulance call – whether the customer has any insurance or not.
“All calls will have to be set at the same amount whether it is Medicare, a private insurance company or if someone does not have any insurance,” said Cuka. You can’t raise just Medicare charges.”
Long-time EMT Tim Kuchta voiced a concern for people who might not call for an ambulance, even though one was needed.

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By Deanna Anderson
Cedar County News
HARTINGTON — Does a chicken have ears?
Evidently a silver laced polish hen named Miss Phoebe does indeed have ears.
When someone calls her name, even if she is some distance away, Miss Phoebe comes running.
Miss Phoebe moved into Cedar County from Oroville, California this year.

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By Deanna Anderson
Cedar County News
Hartington — Plans for a new subdivision to the city of Hartington were shared with the City Council Monday.
Dan Kathol and Chris Miller updated council members on plans for Deerfield Housing Subdivision.
“Bob Eickhoff’s intention is to develop the 56 acres that are north of the old cheese plant into a 44 lot subdivision for residential property,” said Kathol. “The subdivision will provide a rural setting with an opportunity for out buildings and even a horse.”
A copy of the proposed layout of the subdivision was given to council members.
Three options that call for the city’s involvement with streets, water and sewer were looked at.
Option A would annex the entire subdivision to the city which would provide city sewer and water to the lots. The estimated cost would be over $1, million said Kathol.
Option B would call for annexing only the east side of Deerfield Subdivision. The west side would not be annexed although city water would be incorporated into the lots. The lots would have their own individual septic systems.
Option C would be similar to Option B but the streets would be treated differently.
City ordinances along with variances for all three options would have to be considered.
Another city that has a subdivision with a rural setting similar to the proposed Deerfield Subdivision calls their lots ‘ranchettes,’ Kathol said.
An old farm pond, which is in the corner of the proposed subdivision, could be developed into a park area.
“The city has to determine if these things are possible even though they are not the norm,” said Miller. “We need to know if you as the Council are open to the idea before Bob can move forward. If you as the city say ‘no way,’ then Bob won’t spend the additional money it would cost for preparations to go before the Planning Commission.”

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