If 92-degree temperatures and 35 mph wind gusts were not enough to heat things up Thursday, a fire that broke out at the Ron and Julie Stone farm east of Coleridge certainly was. The fire appeared to have started from the remnants of a fire started in a burn pit the previous Saturday. Fire departments from Coleridge, Laurel and Belden responded, as well as the Coleridge Rescue Squad. Firemen Terry Burbach (l-r) and Landon Jansen work to keep water on a pile of burning fence posts.

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This fire at the Ron and Julie Stone farm east of Coleridge required fire departments from three communities, Coleridge, Laurel and Belden. It was fueled further by 92-degree temperatures and 35 mph wind gusts.
— Blade Photo by Alisha Stone

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 Editor’s Note: Northeast Neb. News Company reporter Greta Smith conducted a 60-minute phone interview with new Laurel-Concord Schools Supt. Richard Patton last week. Here is a brief synopsis of the question and answer session.

Q. Rich, please describe your background in education.
A. This year is my 32nd year in education as a teacher, principal, special education director and now as assistant superintendent. I was a high school principal for 21 years. That position was the most fun, but also the most challenging. The last four years my time has been spent as the assistant superintendent for 11 schools in the Lower Yukon School District.

Q. What is your favorite thing about working with students?
A. I really enjoy kids, and I really like learning. I get to do what I love to do everyday.

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COLERIDGE — Coleridge is providing kids with a school away from school.
Students from other schools in the area have been attending the Credit Recovery Center at the Coleridge School in an effort get caught up and earn a high school diploma.
Seventeen students are finishing out the 2008-09 school year at the Credit Recovery Center.
Some of the students will return to the Credit Recovery Center next year, others will go back to their home school to attend classes and seven of the students will be graduating in May.
Six of the students will graduate from Laurel-Concord and one of the students will be graduating from Newcastle, according to Chuck Potosnyak, who is the proctor for the program at Coleridge.
“A student has already enrolled in college and some of the others are still exploring the option of college,” said Potosnyak.

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SHORELINE, Wash. — David Richard Lentz, 47, Shoreline, Wash., died at his home April 21, 2009, of cancer.
Funeral services will be held April 30 in Washington.
A memorial service will be held May 5, at 2 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge.
Burial will be in Washington.

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CROOKSTON — Naomi Jean McCoy, 75, Crookston, died March 31, 2009, at the Cherry County Hospital, Valentine.
Funeral service for Naomi McCoy was held Friday, April 3, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Valentine.
Burial followed at Mount Hope Cemetery with Pastor Jeff Hale officiating at the 2:00 p.m. service.
Arrangements were under the direction of Sandoz Chapel of the Pines.

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RANDOLPH — Doris Elaine Winkelbauer, 84, died April 21, 2009, at Osmond General Hospital, Osmond.
Visitation and a rosary were April 23 at the St. Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, Randolph.
Mass of Christian burial was April 24 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, Randolph, with Rev. John Andrews officiating.
Burial was at the parish cemetery.
Pallbearers were grandsons, Gary J. Frederick, Steve Winkelbauer, Chad Winkelbauer, Brian Winkelbauer, Bradley Winkelbauer, Chris Winkelbauer, Troy Graf and Heath Winkelbauer.
Honorary pallbearers were granddaughters, Dawn Denn, Angie Frederick, Mindy Dahlheim, Teri Winkelbauer, Jennifer Smith, Stephanie Weyenberg, Kerrie Junck, Tina Thelen, Tracy Backhaus, Jeri Gubbels, Shilo Stueckrath and Mitzi Husby.
Services were under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home, Randolph.

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BROKEN BOW — Janelle Diane Emert, 72, Broken Bow, formerly of Hershey, died April 23, 2009, at her home in Broken Bow.
Funeral services were 11 a.m., April 25, at First United Methodist Church, Broken Bow.
Interment was 11 a.m. April 27, at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell.
Pallbearers were her grandchildren.

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The Coleridge Community Club and the Coleridge Athletic Boosters have partnered up to welcome motorists to our community. The large fertilizer tank located on the property of Urwiler Oil and Fertilizer on the north edge of Coleridge is now adorned with vinyl lettering and a Bulldog that appears to be ripping through the side of the tank. The graphics were installed last Friday morning by Love Signs of Norfolk.

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HARTINGTON — A conditional use permit for a feedlot that would be within one mile of the Village of Coleridge could be headed for District Court.
Papers filed in Cedar County District Court are asking the Coleridge Village Board to reverse a decision made at a March 9 meeting giving permission for the feedlot.
The petition claims the application for the conditional use permit was not a complete application and should not have been approved by the village board.
“The application is invalid. The application flat-out does not comply with regulations,” said Omaha Attorney James Buchanan, who filed the petition on behalf of ‘Concerned Citizens of Coleridge,’ a group of area residents that chose not to have their names connected with the lawsuit.

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