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3 Cedar County News LOCALWednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 3Chamber elects officers, honorsarea businesses at annual banquetBY JACOB SNYDERCEDAR COUNTY NEWSHARTINGTON — HartingtonChamber of Commerce PresidentKarma Schulte had a message forChamber members at Sundaynight’s annual banquet.The Chamber appreciates allof the effort area residents putin to make Chamber promotionssuccessful in 2012.“I want to thank you all fromthe bottom of my heart,” Schultetold the crowd of about 40 people.“It was a great year.”The meeting began withSchulte handing out three appreciationawards.She presented one to LG Seedfor being in business 25 years,Fischer Feed and Supply for beingin business 50 years, andCedar-Knox PPD for their 75years in business.Over the past year, the Chamberhas sponsored numerousprograms. Schulte went overa few of them, including theEaster Egg Hunt, the EasterBasket Giveaway, and the annualCandlelight Christmas.“We’ve heard it is the best onewe have ever had,” Schulte said.During her mention of theCandlelight Christmas event,Schulte thanked Darrell and LoriKathol for providing some of theBY JACOB SNYDERCEDAR COUNTY NEWSHARTINGTON —Dan Leise,general manager of Cedar-Knox, said although much haschanged since the companywas started, their missionremains the same, to providesafe, reliable, affordable, highqualityelectrical service tocustomers.Sunday, CKPPD receivedan appreciation award at theChamber of Commerce Banquetfor being in business 75years.“I think we have been a pillarin this community,” Leise said.“We take pride in what we haveaccomplished over the years.”In October 1937, Cedar andthe east part of Knox countiespartnered to form Cedar-KnoxPublic Power District, and inDecember 1938, over 200 ruralcustomers were energized. Thefirst board of directors includednine individuals and HaroldMartindale was the first generalmanager of the company.These nine proceeded forwardwith what was considereda “daunting” task. In thosedays, local farmers volunteeredto help set poles and stringwire to move the project alongand make this dream a reality.People were reluctant atfirst, but after the war, everyonewanted the power. By1950, almost 100 percent ofthe rural people had electricity.Martindale remained thegeneral manager for 45 yearsbefore Jerry Litz took over thereigns in 1983. Several moreheld the position over the yearsbefore Leise was appointed togeneral manager in 2006.As has been the case sincethe company’s birth, CKPPDonly has one location, westof town in Hartington. Thecompany serves all of CedarCounty and the eastern halfof Knox County and employs27 people.Today, the company not onlycontinues to offer electricity forthe area, but also offers a scholarshipand a few educationalprograms as well.In August 1981, the HaroldMartindale Memorial Scholarshipwas established inrecognition of his many yearsof service to the District. Thescholarship is awarded to adecorations downtown.Thanks were also handed outto those who came to the meetingsin 2012 and for those whodonated time and manpower forall the events, especially CandlelightChristmas.For 2013, Schulte urgedpeople to continue attendingmeetings and giving their inputbecause the Chamber believesit is very important. Meetingsare typically at noon on the firstWednesday of the month.“We welcome your attendanceand ideas at the meetings in2013,” Schulte said.Following Schulte’s review ofthe past year, Treasurer KarenFlamig then went over the financialstatement for December2012, explaining how much theChamber brought in and whatthe expenses were.Discussion then shifted tosharing and talking about a fewideas for activities in the upcomingyear. Some of the ideasincluded a possible Farm and AgDay and a street dance.A Farm and Ag Day would bewhere people in the agriculturebusiness would set up boothsand/or bring in display itemsdealing with their business.The Farm and Ag Day wouldbe a chance to not only supportChamber helps mark 75 yearsfor Cedar-Knox Public Powerstudent at Northeast CommunityCollege who is in theUtility Lineman Program.Also, each year the NebraskaRural Electrical Associationholds a Youth Energy Campin Halsey. It is a week-long funand educational program forteenage attendees from acrossthe state.The camp is intended to exposeyoung men and women tothe public power model and theprocesses of safely producingand distributing electrical energyto homes and businessesacross the state.Technology has certainlybeen part of many changesthe business has gone throughin 75 years because of howrapidly it has progressed inrecent years.“Indeed, our core missionremains static, but there is acontinual need for employeesto learn and evolve with excitingnew technologies andequipment that can improveour system and the lives ofconsumers,” Leise said.Another significant change,Leise said, is the growing numberof wind farms that are goingup. He said it has not necessarilychanged how the CKPPDoperates, but it is just anothersource of electricity to use.Leise said some things hebelieves the company doeswell are being there when thecustomer needs them. Thecompany prides themselves inproviding prompt service.“I think we provide goodcustomer service,” he said.For the future, CKPPDhas been working on and willcomplete in the next year, anautomated metering system. Itwill allow for employees to beable to read the meters fromthe comfort of the office.“It will also help us to monitorour systems,” Leise said.Building up the CKPPD hasbeen a collaborative effort bymany from the past and present,Leise said. He added thatMartindale essentially broughtthe company to life and builta foundation on which thedistrict stands.“Since then, many wonderful,dedicated employees havelabored with him and continueto make the Cedar-Knox storya successful one,” Leise said.Hartington Chamber president Karma Schulte presents a plaqueto Cedar Knox Public Power Director Dan Leise, and formerdirector, Jerry Litz, in honor of CKPPD’s 75 years of serviceto Hartington and the surrounding area.people in this particular line ofwork, but also a chance to educateothers about the agriculturebusiness. Bruning said it wouldbe a good idea because Hartingtonis after all, an agriculturalcommunity.Schulte then opened up thefloor to hear people’s opinionabout these events. While manythought the ideas were good, theysaid it would need a lot of workand planning, and it would besomething that could be donein the future, but likely not thisyear.As for the street dance, thegeneral consensus was thatit would be a good idea, but itmight have to be done after thedowntown revitalization projectis complete.The final activity of the eveningwas to elect and install officers.Kristi Bruning was re-electedas Chamber secretary and KarenFlamig was re-elected as Chambertreasurer. Mary Grosskop,Julie DeBlauw and Gary Howeywere all elected to the Board ofDirectors.These officers then got up,raised their right hands, and wereinstalled. The installation oathwas read by Gary Kimm, pastorof First Congressional ChurchU.C.C., Hartington.Fischer Feed honored for 50 years in businessBY JACOB SNYDERCEDAR COUNTY NEWSHARTINGTON — FischerFeed and Supply, Hartington, isa business that’s proud to saythey always take care of theircustomers.Whether it’s giving them adviceabout feed, or just havinga good ol’ fashion conversationover a cup of coffee, hot chocolate,juice or bag of popcorn.The business was presentedwith an appreciation award atthe Jan. 13 Hartington Chamberof Commerce Banquet for their50 years in operation here.“Fischer Feed and Supply hasbeen a family business for 50years,” said Donna Fischer. “Theentire family works together.Each has their own specialitythat they do.”Under the name FischerBrothers Feed and Trucking,the business was started inMay 1962.In 1972, land was purchasedto build a new facility for thecompany, their current location.Then, in 1983, the business wassplit. Leroy took the truckingportion and Gerald and Donnakept the feed store.After the split, the feed storebecame known as Fischer Feedand Supply. Today, Gerald,and Donna, along with theirsons, Jerry, Scott and Troy, allof Hartington, work together tokeep things going.Jerry is the business managerof design, sales, and repair ofpressure washers. Scott is thewarehouse manager and Troydoes all the feed formulationand milling.Donna does the bookkeepingand collection and Jolene, whois married to Jerry, is the headof office sales.Scott’s three sons, Taylor,Chris and Ross, currently workat the store and have for sometime. As for the 17 grandchildren,each of them have workedat the store at one time or another“The grandchildren are hereto work and eat,” Donna said.In all, the business employs 11people — six full-time, and fivepart-time.Over the years, Fischer Feedand Supply has become morediversified. Gerald and Donnaand their sons also sell presuurewashers and operate a treenursery and tree moving business,Midwest Tree.“There are less and less farmersout there,” Donna said. “Sowe had to become more diversifiedas a company.”The business motto is qualityand service. Hard work is justexpected here.“As Gerald told our sons,‘Work never hurt anyone,’ and‘There is no such thing as afree meal,’” Donna said. “Geraldalways says if you want somethingout of life, you have towork for it.”Donna said future plansare to hopefully expand theirbuilding and in particular theirpressure washer, feed and treebusiness, but right now, it isjust not in the cards.“We just need more buildingspace, is what we need,” Donnasaid.Got A Vision Emergency?Dr. Filips’ homenumber is in thebook & his answeringmachine gives hiscell number!Delon Kathol is presented a Chamber of Commerce plaque byChamber President Karma Schulte. The plaque marks 25 yearsfor LG Seeds, a company run by his father, Allen Kathol.LG Seed is recognized for25 years in business hereHARTINGTON — LG Seed, Hartington, was presented an appreciationaward Sunday for being in business for 25 years here.Allen Kathol, owner of LG Seed, has been running the companysince 1985. He also has owns and runs Kathol Turf.Jim Kathol started the business in 1966, which was then callMcCurdy Seed. Allen then took over in 1985. In 1999, he beganworking with Horizon Seed and then AgReliant Genetics.Now with the name LG Seed, the company is considered a divisionof AgReliant Genetics, one of six.The other five divisions are AgriGold, Great Lakes Hybrid, ProducersHybrid, Wensmen Seed, and Pride Seed.“We went from a regional company to a worldwide company,”Kathol said.Continued on Page 7Scott Fischer, Alissa Fischer, Jolene Fischer and Jerry Fischer joined Chamber president,Karma Schulte, when she presented Donna and Gerald Fischer a plaque for their 50 years ofbusiness in Hartington.We’re here for you day or night!After hours appointments available. 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