Martha Thersa Menke Faimon November 17 1926 to May 7, 2018

Martha Theresa (Menke) Faimon was born on Nov. 17, 1926 at home in rural Nuckolls County to H.B. and Elizabeth (Knoop) Menke. She died at the age of 91, Monday May 7, 2018 at Blue Hill care Center, Blue Hill.  She was baptized at St. Stephen Catholic Church. Martha grew up south of St. Stephen, Nebraska and attended Elementary School at St. Stephen through the eighth grade.

Martha was united in marriage on April 26th, 1949 to Arnold Faimon at St. Stephen Catholic Church. The couple made their home in rural Webster County, northwest of Lawrence.

During their marriage the couple were blessed with 5 kids, Donnie Faimon of Lawrence, Larry and Mary (Kathman) Faimon of Lawrence, the late Patty Faimon who passed at the age of 16 months, Rich and Karen (Buschkoetter) Faimon of Glenvil, and Marlene Faimon of Lawrence; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents; husband; nine siblings and their spouses.

Martha was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, being a very active member of the Altar Society. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Sewing Circle and the Lawrence American Legion Auxiliary. Martha was a current Hastings Eagles member where she and her son Donnie enjoyed playing cards until recently. Martha also enjoyed playing dominoes weekly with her sisters. She also enjoyed the various card clubs she belonged to.

There was nothing Martha enjoyed more than a good’ole Catholic polka mass and going polka dancing with family members and friends. Martha had quite a sense of humor and loved spending time laughing with her seven grandkids and 15 great-grandkids. The remainder of Martha’s family and friends will miss her dearly, as she was a remarkable, loving, fun person. May Martha truly enjoy every polka dance and card game in heaven with her husband: Arnie.

Funeral services were held Friday May 11, 2018, with Rosary on Thursday May 10, 2018.  both at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence with Father Thomas Schultes officiating.  Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Lawrence.

Cattle Thief in Court

Testimony started Monday in Red Cloud to disallow evidence in a case of alleged cattle rustling.

Hastings attorney, T. Charles James, Hastings attorney representing Austin A. Petr, 27, of rural Blue Hill filed a motion to suppress evidence on Jan. 8.

Petr faces a charge of theft by unlawful taking, value more than $5,000, which is a Class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The single witness heard Monday was George Horton, chief investigator for the Nebraska Brand Commission. His cross-examination was cut short and will continue at the March hearing.

Horton testified that he was called by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 13, 2017, about a report of cattle being stolen.

He later received a call indicating the cattle had been possibly located at the Sutton Livestock auction barn at Sutton.

Horton testified on cross-examination that he saw it as a criminal investigation When he went to the barn to investigate

Petr had called the Sutton Livestock barn earlier and consigned 70 head of cattle to be sold.  Horton testified he found 30 unbranded calves mingled with 40 head of branded cattle owned by Petr. 

Of the 30 head of unbranded cattle mingled with Petr's branded cattle, 27 were shown by DNA to belong to Alan Johnson of Blue Hill. Johnson found the cattle missing when he went to his farm around 7:30 am and immediately reported  the theft  He had last seen the cattle at 5:30 the previous evening...

Johnson was alerted by friends that his cattle were at the Sutton Sale Barn and went there. He told Horton that he could identify his unbranded calves.

Horton testified that he and a deputy sheriff took Petr into a small store room during the investigation to talk to him.  He said Petr's Miranda rights were not read to him because he wasn't under arrest..

In his suppression motion, James argues that the questioning of Petr amounts to custodial interrogation and Petr should have had his Miranda rights read to him and that law enforcement officers unlawfully seized the unbranded cattle and conducted a warrantless search to obtain hair samples used for DNA testing..

Horton testified that he impounded the 30 head of unbranded cattle and had a veterinarian collect the samples for testing. The samples were compared to Johnson’s herd, and 27 of the cattle matched.

Horton’s cross-examination will continue on March 12 at 3 p.m.

 A pretrial hearing in another case has been set for March 14.  Petr also faces seven counts of prohibited sale of livestock In Clay County District Court as well as a Class 3 felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a $25,000 fine. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Sept. 13, 2017. 

WEBSTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS May 1, 2018

 The Webster County Board of Commissioners met at 8:30am on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, for a regular business meeting at the Courthouse in Red Cloud. The following Board Members were present for roll call: Dan Shipman (District One), Trevor Karr (District Two), Roger Bohrer (District Three), Keith Buschow (District Four) and JoAnn Reiher (District Five). The Board stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Chairman Buschow gave notice of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act Laws. Motion was made by Bohrer, second by Reiher, to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2018 meeting. Upon roll call vote, voting to approve the minutes: Bohrer, Reiher, Shipman, Karr and Buschow. Voting no, absent or abstaining: none. At 8:35am, Jeff Kuhn, Road Maintenance Coordinator, met with the Board. Kuhn and Monica Montgomery, Road Department Office Manager, attended Fema Emergency Management training for the Disaster Relief Process. Kuhn attended Flood Plain Management training. Kuhn has requested that other entities of Webster County meet to discuss the Plan. Van Kirk is doing the final grading for Project 605. Kuhn has met with Tim Farmer, Speece Lewis Engineering, concerning billing questions. Kuhn presented the active project list for projects engineered by Speece Lewis Engineering. Buschow signed a Contractors Application for Payment for Project #357. Motion was made by Bohrer, seconded by Karr, to approve RESOLUTION 10 – 2018: MINIMUM MAINTENANCE ROAD RECLASSIFCATION TO LOCAL ROAD WEBSTER COUNTY RESOLUTION 10 – 2018 WHEREAS, Webster County desires to improve Y Road, starting at the centerline of Road 1900 and proceeding 2,670 feet east to rural local classified road according to minimum design standards, including drainage structures, grading and gravel, and WHEREAS, the road re-classification and improvements will benefit the citizens of the county if the road is improved. NOW, THEREFORE, in view of the above facts, the Webster County Board of Commissioners hereby declares that said road shall be re-classified from Minimum Maintenance to Rural Local to become effective as soon as concurrence and approval is received from the State of Nebraska Department of Transportation. Upon roll call vote, voting in favor: Bohrer, Karr, Reiher, Shipman and Buschow. Voting no, absent or abstaining: none. RESOLUTION 10 – 2018 was signed. Discussion was had concerning equipment. Kuhn has found a trailer at Blue River Trucks. Motion was made by Bohrer, seconded by Karr, to approve the purchase of the trailer with the condition of selling the 1996 Witzco trailer on consignment. Upon roll call vote, voting in favor: Bohrer, Karr, Reiher, Shipman and Bohrer. Voting no, absent or abstaining: none. Review of the motor grader payment schedule was had. Discussion for the purchase of a bale grinder and disk was had. Discussion for the dump truck was tabled until later in the meeting. Motion was made by Karr, seconded by Bohrer, to award the bids for Project #629 and Project #630 to Kucera Excavating. The bid for Project #629 was $16,304.00 and the bid for Project #630 was $13,206.00. Upon roll call vote, voting in favor: Karr, Bohrer, Reiher, Shipman and Buschow. Voting no, absent or abstaining: none.
 At 9:15am, Sharon Hueftle, Executive Director for South Central Economic Development District(SCEDD), met with the Board. Hueftle reviewed activities of the organization in Webster County over the last year. James Lounsbury, a Councilperson for the City of Blue Hill, described how SCEDD has assisted the city.
At 9:30am, James Lounsbury met with the Board to discuss a contract between the Webster County Sheriff and the City of Blue Hill. Sheriff Troy Schmitz was in attendance. Discussion was had on what duties the Sheriffs’s office will be and what the expectations of the City of Blue Hill are.
 At 9:45am, Gene Horne, Red Cloud EMT, met with the Board to discuss L.B. 760 which entitles the Volunteer First Responders to a $250.00 tax credit. Horne reviewed the criteria that needs to be met to receive this credit. After discussion, motion was made by Karr, seconded by Shipman to sign the Annual Certification for the Volunteer Emergency Responders Incentive Act for 2016 and 2017. Upon roll call vote, all voted in favor. At 9:50am, Janet Knehans, Webster County Treasurer, met with the Board. Knehans presented RESOLUTION 11 – 2018: RESOLUTION 11 – 2018 BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Webster County, Nebraska, that SOUTH CENTRAL STATE BANK be permitted to Pledge the following securities, held in escrow by the Webster County Treasurer (trustee) to secure the deposits in the County in said bank, to wit: FHL BANK-TOPEKA IRREVOCABLE LETTER OF CREDIT #49990 AMOUNT: $2,500,000.00 EXPIRATION DATE: 04/19/2019 ADOPTED by the Webster County Board of Commissioners this 1 st day of May, 2018 Motion was made by Karr, seconded by Shipman, to approve RESOLUTION 11 – 2018. Upon roll call vote, voting in favor: Karr, Shipman, Bohrer, Reiher and Buschow. Voting no, absent or abstaining: none. Knehans presented to the Board a listing of the taxing Districts and how much each received from the Nameplate Capacity Tax that was collected for the last quarter of 2017. At 9:55am, Tami Scheuneman, Webster County Planning and Zoning Administrator, met with the Board. Scheuneman had discussed Zoning Regulation 501.03 “D” with the Webster County Attorney who recommended leaving the statute as is and handling each situation individually. The Board agreed to this. At 10:15am, Dan Schwartzkopf and Jason Boyd, Account Executives for Krull Agency, met with the Board. Several of the Department Heads/Elected Officials were also in attendance. Discussion was had concerning underwriting, pre-existing conditions, meeting deductibles and the Affordable Care Act. The decision was made to have each employee that is on the County health insurance to complete an Employee Health Application Form, submit them to Krull Agency for them to prepare a quote for the cost to the County. Discussion was had on the painting of the Extension office. After discussion, the project was awarded to Monica Schmitz. At 11:00am, Sheriff Troy Schmitz met with the Board to discuss the County Jail Budget for the remaining of the 2017/2018 Budget year. Even though the jail has generated more revenue than expected, due to a surplus of out of County Inmates and that added expense, Sheriff Schmitz expects to exceed the projected Budget. After discussion, Commissioner Karr suggested that $10,000.00 be transferred to the Jail Fund. This will be discussed at the May 15, 2018 meeting. Commissioner Karr left the meeting at 11:30am. At 11:15am, Debra Klingenberger, Webster County Clerk, presented General Assistance 2018-1. After discussion, motion was made by Bohrer, seconded by Shipman, to pay the request for payment of utilities totaling $184.39. Upon roll call vote, voting in favor: Bohrer, Shipman, Reiher and Buschow. Absent: Karr. Voting no or abstaining: none. At 11:55am, Jeff Kuhn, Road Maintenance Coordinator, rejoined the meeting and discussion resumed concerning purchasing of a dump truck. After discussion, motion was made by Karr, via teleconference, seconded by Shipman, to approve the purchase of a 2011 20yard Peterbilt dump truck for $68,500.00. Upon roll call vote, voting in favor: Karr, Shipman, Bohrer and Buschow. Voting no: Reiher. Absent or abstaining: none.
 The following claims were approved for payment:
Wages for 4 part-time and 15 EMTS $6,002.37
 General Fund 
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp Retire $ 245.87
Anderson, Klein, Brewster & Brandt Counsel 901.86
Jordyn Atwater Expense 18.09
 BDY Cabinets and More Repairs 369.45
Charm-Tex Inc Supply 109.08
Countryman Associates Audit 1,000.00
DAS State Accounting/Central Finance Fee 448.00
S.S Fica 278.66
 Eakes Office Solutions Supply 1,215.29
 Election Systems & Software Supply 66.06
Energized Electric, LLC Repairs 641.57
ERC Communications Contact 360.00
Farm & Home Publishers, LTD Plat Books 479.00
First Concord Benefits Group Health/Buy Down 1,412.10
First National Bank of Omaha Supply 32.09
Glenn Plumbing & Heating Repairs 94.67
Glenwood Phone 166.72
Great Plains Communications Phones 332.76
 Marvin Hartman Expense 20.90
Troy Himmelberg Expense 35.07
Hometown Leasing Leases 2,339.43
Elizabeth Janning Expense 109.00
Jared’s Auto Expert Repairs 667.49
Carol Kumke Expense 133.18
Kustom Signals Inc. Equip 1,075.00
Jerry Langer Expense 20.90
Leaf Capitol Funding, LLC Lease 390.70
Lieske Law Firm Counsel 38.00
Jack McGuire Repairs 440.00
 NE Assn of Co Ext BDS Dues 100.00
Neb Dept of Labor/Finance Inspections 48.00
Pierce Electronics Repairs 2,793.48
Red Cloud Chief Publish 231.27
City of Red Cloud Utility 1,383.59
Rene Rodriguez Expense 166.97
Bradley Schick Expense 245.80
Sequoia Consulting Group Fee 352.11
 Rhoda Shurigar Fees 112.55
Skalka & Baack Law Firm Counsel 2,203.40
South Central Pub Power Dist Utility 24.80
Paul Stoner Expense 21.99
Sullivan Shoemaker P.C. L.L.O. Counsel 1,060.67
Theobald Law Office Counsel 1,045.00
Verizon Wireless Phone 47.34
Keith Waechter Expense 40.52
 Watch Guard Supply 118.26
Webster County Court Crt Costs 47.00
Webster County Hospital Health Fees 1,160.00
Williams Exterminating, Inc Pest Control 88.00
 Road/Bridge Fund 
Ace/Eaton Metals Culverts 4,996.00
Bladen Sand & Gravel, Inc Gravel 13,178.57
 City of Blue Hill Utility 109.10
Blue River Trucks Trailer 36,000.00
Central Community College Training 230.00
Country Corner Fuel 420.98
 S.S. Fica 39.67
Energized Electric, LLC Utility 1,934.14
First Concord Benefits Group Health 500.00
Glenwood Telecommunications Phones 154.51
Great Plains Communications Phone 209.96
Michael Hunt Expense 23.63
Island Supply Welding Company Tools 296.85
 J & A Auto Supply Repairs 556.37
John Deere Financial Repairs 137.79
LRNRD Rural Water Project Water 22.00
Meridian Agriculture Distribution Chemical 1,728.92
Monica Montgomery Postage 9.85
NCK Quarries, LLC Gravel 12,208.85
 Nebraska Machinery Company Repairs 549.77
R & M Disposal, LLC Utility 33.00
South Central Pub Power Dist Utility 234.48
 Windstream Phone 65.30
 Road/Bridge Const Fund 
JEO Consulting Group Fees 4,196.25
Van Kirk Contracting Culverts 135,377.42
 Self-Insured Dental Fund 
Kory L Bumgardner D.D.S. Dental 781.20
McCann-Carpenter Dental LLC Dental 113.00
 Pediatric Dental Specialists Dental 362.00
RC Wilson & SA Wilson D.D.S, PC Dental 373.60
 County Medical/Relief Fund
City of Blue Hill Utility 167.40
South Central Pub Power Dist Utility 16.99
 Bridge Bond Fund 
Union Bank & Trust Co. Admin. Fee 524.00
 Noxious Weed Fund 
Bostock Welding, LLC Repairs 65.50
Great Plains Communications Phone 47.48
Meridian Agriculture Distribution Chemical 137.20
Nebraska Weed Control Assn-Region Dues 15.00
 Ambulance Fund 
Central Community College Training 1,084.37
S.S. Fica 140.91
Matheson Tri-Gas Rental 202.83
Being no further business, Chairperson Buschow adjourned the meeting at 12:10pm. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 8:30am. A current agenda and complete minutes are on file at the County Clerk’s office and at

Wendel H. Krueger December 21, 1930 to April 30, 2018

Wendel H. Krueger, 87, Blue Hill, Nebraska died Monday, April 30, 2018 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska. 

Wendel was born on December 21, 1930 to Paul J. and Elizabeth (VanBoening) Krueger in rural Adams County. He died Monday April 30, 2018 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.  Wendel was the 7th of 11 children. He attended country school and then Trinity Lutheran Parochial School.  He graduated  from Blue Hill High School in 1948.

 After High School he worked for the REA until entering the Army during the Korean War. He served for about 2 years as a gunner and tank driver. 

Wendel married  on June 6, 1954. Together they farmed near Blue Hill, Juniata, Guide Rock and eventually back to Blue Hill.  They had 5 children: Mike, Wendy, Terri, Tony and Connie. After retiring and moving into Blue Hill Wendel still helped on the farm when he could. 

Wendel was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and had held many church offices over the years. Wendel was a past member of the Blue Hill Coop Board, The American Legion in Cowles, Zion Lutheran Church, Hastings, Nebraska and Zion Lutheran Church, Red Cloud, Nebraska.

Wendel is survived by his Wife: Janice,  Son: Tony (Sharon) Krueger, Blue Hill, Nebraska,  Daughters: Wendy (Joseph) Law, Grand Island, Nebraska, Terri (Randy) Allen, Worland, Wyoming, Connie (Alan) Van Velson, Seward, Nebraska,  Brothers: Paul Krueger, Blue Hill, Nebraska, Glen (Kay) Krueger, Hastings, Nebraska, Jim (Marilyn) Krueger, Norfolk, Nebraska,  Sister: Elaine (Bill) Beezley, Red Cloud, Nebraska, (4) Sister-In-laws: Betty Krueger, Hastings, Nebraska, Mariel Krueger, Blue Hill, Nebraska, Nancy Krueger, Hastings, Nebraska and Lucille Krueger, Red Cloud, Nebraska, (15) Grandchildren: JD and Melissa Law, Troy Law, Melita Law, Ryan Allen, Tanner & Lindsey Allen, Ramsey Allen, Turner and Justine Allen, Nathan Van Velson, Bryce Van Velson, Austin Van Velson, Abby Van Velson, Jeremiah Krueger, Mariah Krueger, Adam Krueger and Katrina Krueger, (6) Great Grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends. Wendel was preceded in death by Son: Mike, Granddaughter: Emma Ruth Van Velson, Brothers: Dalvin, Leslie, Ken and Alan; Sisters and Brothers-In-Law: Eleanor (John) Brehm, Sylvia (Clarence) Bell and Sister-In-Law: Dona Krueger.

Services were Friday, May 4, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Hill, Nebraska with Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes officiating. Burial with Military Rites by A.L. Shirley Post #176 was in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Blue Hill, Nebraska.