News

The future of the Allegro Wolf Arts Center (AWAC) in Sutton is up in the air, and current board members and leaders are looking for new life to keep the center open and continuing to give various arts back to the community and surrounding areas.

“The community has been supportive in helping pay off the extreme debt the board was faced with when we took over, and we’re very grateful for their support,” Pat Majors, an interim board member, said.

Over the years, the board worked hard to make sure all bills were paid and the building stayed as up-todate as possible.

However, everything has a cost and the center is no exception.

The 41st annual Old Trusty Sept. 9-10 had the Clay County Fairgrounds bustling with activity, as vendors showed off their collections of antiques, tractors, and engines, among other items. Above, Harvard Legion members post the colors during the National Anthem at the start of the parade Saturday. Below, riders of the annual tractor drive Friday, Sept. 8, head out of Clay Center. 

While much of the northern half of Suttons downtown business district remains either closed, or under repair, the downtown location of Cornerstone Bank, located at the corner of 101 West Elm, and North Saunders Ave., has hopeful plans of reopening the location following extensive damage from the Saturday, July 29 EF-1 tornado, that occurred just prior to 7 a.m., in late July.

According to Brett Freese, the vice president, and branch manager of the downtown location, he anticipates that the location should begin conducting business in the location either Tuesday, or Wednesday.

“We anticipate that our downtown location will reopen to the public early next week,” shared Freese, late last week.

“The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office cleared us to open up, after our structural engineering report was okayed by the office of the fire marshall.”

Plans have been set for the 2023 annual meeting of the Sutton Community Home, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13.

This will be the 25th annual meeting of the board and shareholders, which will be at the Sutton Community Center, located at 200 South Saunders Ave.

Dinner is set to begin at 6 p.m., with the business meeting planned for a 7 p.m. start.

Featured during the meeting will be Sutton native Kyle Overturf, a certified public accountant with AMGL out of Grand Island. Overturf will present the 2022-23 financial report to those attending.

Additional reports and presentations will be provided by Amy Schelkopf, administrator at SCH, Sheila Griess, president of the SCH Board of Directors, Elizabeth Carlson, president of the SCH Auxiliary, and Tory Duncan, president of the SCH Foundation.

Dryland soybean harvest began this week just across the county line to the southwest, though yields are expected to be well below typical.

In southern Clay County, dryland corn harvest continues but for livestock forage instead of grain.

All of Clay County, per the U.S. Drought Monitor, remains in at least D3-Extreme Drought. About 22 percent of the county sits in the D4-Exceptional Drought. Drought ratings range from D0-Abnormally Dry to D4.

The most severe drought conditions are now in northern portions of Clay County, although the U.S. Drought Outlook forecasts that the drought will deepen across Nebraska through the end of November.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, 54 percent of Nebraska’s topsoil and 62 percent of subsoil are short on soil moisture.

Central Nebraska Wood Preservers, located in northeast Sutton, might very well be one of the biggest hidden treasurers that the Sutton community has. It’s not located in a high traffic area of the community, nor is it visible from Sutton’s main thoroughfare, Highway 6.

But the 38-year0old business, started in 1985 by founder, Vic Sowl, then owner of the Sutton Lumber yard, has quietly left a “bigfoot size footprint” on the Sutton community with its growth and evolution over the course of its time in business.

“Vic started with two people when he opened the treatment plant, more in an effort to supply his lumber yard with treated lumber, and now, today, we employ 42 people here at our Sutton facility alone,” general manager Kurt Andres shared.

MINNESOTA ADDITION

The Hastings DAV chapter is hoping to purchase a new vehicle to serve Clay County veterans, and the Clay County Board of Supervisors has voted to contribute toward this effort.

Chris Long, Adams County’s veterans services officer, met with the board at its regular meeting on Aug. 22, at the courthouse in Clay Center. He explained that the Hastings DAV has sourced half of the funds needed to purchase a Ford Explorer, priced at approximately $24,000, as a replacement DAV vehicle.

DAV is an acronym for Disabled American Veterans. The Hastings DAV chapter helps transport veterans in Clay, Adams, Nuckolls, and Webster Counties to appointments as needed. During the past two years, the current DAV vehicle has accumulated 27,000 miles driving 104 veterans in the four-county area. Six volunteer drivers trade off to make the DAV vehicle available to veterans four days each week.

It’s safe to say that not many Nebraska High School football teams, and for that matter football teams across the United States, have had a documentary made about them, but in the case of the Sandy Creek’s Cougar squad, a special highlight documentary of the magical 2022 football season has locked in a memorable season that will be enjoyed for years to come.

The Cougars, who capped last season with a 6-4 record overall and won one of two playoff games, their first playoff berth since 2011, and with a 24-18 win over Sandhills Valley of Stapleton, the Cougars captured their first playoff win since 2003.

The entire season, from preseason camp through the regular season and into the playoffs was captured in depth by the 74 Creative videography staff, led by Mr. Jeremy Borer, the technology director of Sandy Creek Media.

More than 40 Clay County citizens attended a town hall meeting to help update the current Clay County Comprehensive Plan, which was originally made in 1975, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the county fair grounds in Clay Center.

“Every county is different. You are unique and we’re here to talk about Clay County, Nebraska,” John Shepard, Marvin Planning Consultants senior community planner and project manager, said. “What vision do you have and how can we help you achieve it?”

Shepard said MPC looks at the county’s population, housing, economic trends, and how they’ve changed overtime.

They also look at the county’s facilities and how they’re used; public safety; what are the impacts of the population on police and EMS; and communication and energy.

“This is not us telling Clay County people what to do with their land, but they are looking at where trends are good,” he added.

Despite the more than 100º weather, Triple F Days had a good turnout Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20. At the left: Jason Brockman and Kody Illingworth participate in the fireman’s water fight. Top right: Sandy Creek Cheerleaders were stationed at the park to do face painting. Bottom right: Bodie Jarchow enjoys the water slide at the city park Aug. 19.