News

Development plans for the renovation and expansion of the Sutton Community Home are on track, with completion of plans expected in early summer. Regular meetings between members of the home’s board, foundation, key staff, architect firm arCuretecture, and construction manager Hampton Construction ensure progress is steady so construction can commence once the plans are complete.

Recently, the architect completed the Design Development phase, marking the transition to the final phase known as Construction Documents. During this final phase, detailed drawings are being finalized to confirm the project’s total cost, acquire construction permits, and prepare for construction.

It is anticipated that the drawings will be ready by the end of June.

Mother Nature must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed, Saturday, March 23, as Easter Egg hunts in both Edgar and Sutton had to deal wilh cold and blustery weather for their annual events. Above, a group of boys taking part in the Edgar hunt ready themselves amid huge snowflakes, with hoodies and stocking hats giving the boys some warmth. In the photo at the left, Brittney Hultman joins her daughters Sloane and Saige during the Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Easter Egg hunt, also held Saturday, March 23, at the Sutton City Park.

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) have partnered together for the 2024 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week because everyone deserves to go home from work each day. The goal is to raise awareness among farmers and agricultural workers about the importance of safety when working in and around grain bins. This initiative also emphasizes the significance of overall safety practices on the farm.

As Nebraska farmers strive for innovation and higher yields, there has been a notable increase in on-farm storage. According to the USDA NASS report in 2023, there were over 890 million bushels of corn stored on Nebraska farms, an increase of 31 percent from 2022. Nebraska soybeans also saw a 39 percent increase over 2022 with 87 million bushels of soybeans stored on Nebraska farms.

Harvard Food Pantry continues to grow and give to those in need. Every first and third Saturday morning of the month, the Harvard Food Pantry provides various food and hygiene items to around 30-45 families by way of a drive-through at the Harvard Methodist Church.

“This group is so important because we help fill the void of families financial and social needs,” volunteer Cindy Reutzel said.

Around 30 people volunteer at the Harvard Food Pantry, but out of the 30, there are about 12 volunteers who devote their time to help out with the food pantry on dayto- day operations. Various churches, town groups, and school staff members also support the Harvard Food Pantry.

“It’s a humbling experience to volunteer, and it warms my heart to help those in need,” volunteer Elaine Almond said.

Volunteering at the Harvard Food Pantry consists of unloading trucks, sorting foods, loading food boxes, and distributing the food.

The Manna Resort soup feed and silent auction fundraising event, Sunday, March 17, brought over 150 guests that supported the resort, held in the Fairfield Auditorium. Here, at the left is Deb Koehler serving soup to Brett Lahndorf as Lahndorf led his family through the service line as Rex Bailey looks on, to the right of Koehler.

United States Senator Pete Ricketts has announced that his constituent casework staff will be hosting Mobile Office Hours around the state.

Ricketts’ staff will be in Sutton on Monday, March 25, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Sutton American Legion Post 61, located at 103 E.

Forrest Street.

At Mobile Office Hours, Ricketts’ staff will be on-site to assist Nebraskans with their casework needs. If Nebraskans can’t get an answer in a timely manner or feel they have been treated unfairly, Ricketts and his staff may be able to help resolve the issue or help them get in touch with the correct people.

For more information about Ricketts’ constituent services, please visit https://www.ricketts.senate. gov/services.

Progress in motion can well describe the development of the new City of Sutton housing development in Southeast Sutton, as much of the utility and dirt work for the north half of the 80-acre tract of ground has either wrapped up, or will soon be completed by the local contracting firm, Van Kirk Bros. Contracting.

According to Mike Newman with the Sutton contracting firm, sewer and water installations throughout the development is completed.

“Storm sewer services are nearing completion, with just a little more work to wrap up that part of the project.”

Newman added, “Eric Aksamit, and the electrical department for the City of Sutton is drawing closer and closer to being completed as well. The city has also converted the center pivot system that will be used for crop production on the south half of the ground, to an electrical motor drive, which will make the pivot system run much more quiet.”

This scene along Sutton’s downtown business district on South Saunders Avenue was a common sight throughout Clay County this past