Looking back at 2020
Jan. 1, 2020
LAUREL — Former Cedar County Commissioner Marlen Kraemer died Saturday at Faith Regional Health Services, Norfolk.
He owned and operated Logan Valley Construction Company for nearly 30 years before dispersing the company to run for the Cedar County Commission in 1984, a position he held for a record 28 years. While on the Cedar County Commission,
While on the Cedar County Commission, he served several terms as Chairman of the Cedar County Board of Commissioners. He also served on several committees and councils during his tenure on the County Board.
Jan. 1, 2020
RANDOLPH — Work continued last week at an expansion project at Randolph Farm Supply.
Workers poured concrete for the expansion project.
Jan. 8, 2020
COLERIDGE — The last issue of the Coleridge Blade has rolled off the presses, ending a 131-year run for Coleridge’s community newspaper.
The Blade has had a proud tradition in the newspaper industry.
The newspaper earned statewide recognition with a coveted Sweepstakes award under the guidance of Vince Viergutz in the 1950s.
Bob Yost purchased the newspaper from Viergutz and operated it for more than 40 years before selling it to Rhonda Leapley.
Leapley later announced her intention to shut the newspaper down if a buyer could not be found.
The Northeast Nebraska News Company purchased the Blade from Leapley in 2006 and immediately installed Coleridge native Alisha Stone as office manager.
The decision to close the Blade has been a very difficult one, said Blade Publishers Rob Dump and Peggy Year.
“We have agonized over this for quite awhile, now,” Dump said. “We really hate to see a town lose its newspaper, but it’s simply at the point where we have no choice.”
Jan. 1, 2020
RANDOLPH — Ben Benton began his new duties as the Randolph City Administrator in December and is hoping to put his bachelor’s degree in communications and master’s in business administration to good use here.
He moved to Norfolk and he and his fiancée, Trish, and children, Kaleigh, Alaina, and Carson, plan to move the 25 miles to Randolph this summer, once school gets out.
“I’ve been intrigued to see and understand how a city works,” Benton said. “I’ve worked for different companies, a university and have been self-employed,” he said.
Benton said he saw the ‘help wanted’ listing and thought the position, looked interesting.
Benton has been pleased at what he has found here.
“I am really impressed with the quality of work of the city employees and how friendly the community is,” he said. “I love the winter time, but I am waiting for the summer to get here. There are plenty of outdoor activities. It’s a nice, four-season, living.”
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