News

According to the Nebraska State Republican Party Constitution, on even-numbered years, each county is to hold a county convention between March 1, and April 10.

The purpose is to elect officers for the county party, elect delegates to attend the State Republican Party Convention, and conduct any other business to be done.

It is also a time for party candidates to address voters on what they hope to accomplish when elected to local, state, or national office. In addition, at the convention, if there are other items to be voted on in an election, those may be discussed.

The county convention is open to all registered Republicans in Clay County, who are encouraged to attend. However, to vote in a county convention a person must be a county delegate. To become a county delegate, a person must have completed a delegate form with the county’s election commissioner by March 1.

The City of Sutton’s new housing development project, known as the “Schwab Development” continues to take shape in southeast Sutton, as the creation of water, sewer and other inputs that are going into the development continue to shape the ground. Work being completed by Sutton’s own Van Kirk Bros. Contracting, is helping to shape the project for the City of Sutton. 

The National Weather Service office out of Hastings announced late last week that February, 2024 was the third-warmest February on record in the Tri Cities region of Central and South Central Nebraska, making if the warmest month of February in 70 years, since 1954.

Only February, 1954, and February, 1930, were warmer then this past month, as in 1954, the average high temperature in Hastings was 57.4 degrees, while in 1930, the daily average temperature in Hastings was 54.1 degrees.

This past month, the daily average high temperature reached 53.1 degrees.

In 1954, the daily average low temperature fell to just 30.5 degrees, while in 1930, the daily average low dipped to 29 degrees.

Nebraska Tourism is excited to announce the stops included in the 2024 Nebraska Passport program. The Passport inspires Nebraskans and tourists to travel throughout the state collecting stamps to earn prizes while also supporting Nebraska’s tourism destinations and local businesses.

The Nebraska Passport program is entering its 15th year.

“Reaching 15 years of helping travelers discover some of Nebraska’s most charming attractions is worth celebrating,” said John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism executive director. “Visitors and communities alike benefit from Passport season, and we are once again excited to kick off another round of adventures across the state in 2024.”

The 2024 Passport will once again feature 70 attractions and 10 themed categories. Travelers will have from May 1 through September 30 to visit the attractions and collect their stamps.

In a joint meeting with the Sutton Community Home Board of Directors, and administrative staff, with the Sutton Community Home Foundation, held Thursday, Feb. 22 at Sutton’s City Hall, it was decided, following a presentation by Jim Rogers and Kevin Warneke with the Steier Group of Omaha, that the two boards would proceed forward with a capital campaign to help raise funding towards the future of the nearly 60-year old nursing home with an addition and renovation project.

Rogers and Warneke shared the major standout feedback that was received by Rogers during the recent six-week planning study that those responding, either through an interview with Rogers, or through a mailed survey, and only survey that “something needs to happen to move forward with upgrading the nursing home to ensure that we have a place for those that need an extra hand can stay at home.”

After several years of development, the Blue River Basin model is complete and is already being used to evaluate possible water use impacts in the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. Given the drought conditions in much of the district in the last growing season, this resource is especially timely as it will help the NRD board to “protect water supply for all beneficial purposes,” one of the 12 areas of responsibility shared by all NRDs and dictated by state statute.

Demolition work on the north side of the Clay County Courthouse square was nearly complete late last week, as buildings owned by Joe Cooney came down over the course of the past three to four weeks. The building that once stood just east of the USDA Service Center office, shown here at the left in this photo, leaving just two buildings on that side of the square in Clay Center. The easternmost building collapsed in the late afternoon hours of Saturday, Oct. 14. Broken Arrow Excavating of Pleasant Dale razed the buildings, and cleared out the debris, changing the downtown landscape in Clay Center. The collapse put the Clay County Emergency Management office, along with the Clay Center Fire Department, with assistance from other area fire departments, as well as linemen from the South Central Public Power District, as well as Black Hills Energy to help secure the area following the collapse.

During a recent meeting with the Sutton Community Home board and administration with Jeff Ahl, the architect, and construction manager, as well as the construction firm, Hampton Construction, the layout of the required spaces was approved so development of the details can proceed.

The design currently accounts for 27 new private rooms, four of which can be used as shared rooms resulting in beds for up to 31 people. The current project includes two additions.

The primary addition will include a new entrance, room for the administrative offices, a new family room, conference room, and restrooms.

The second addition will be dedicated to a new therapy space with provisions for physical and occupational therapy as well as an additional ADA-compliant restroom.

Members of the Rainwater Basin Chapter of Pheasants Forever will gather this Saturday night at the Sutton Community Center for their 34th annual banquet, and fundraising efforts.

The evening begins with a social hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with dinner for those attending set to begin at 7 p.m.

During the evening, numerous silent auction items will be visible to bid on, along with nearly 40 live auction items, including a 2024 Chevrolet vehicle donated by Friesen Chevrolet of Sutton.

Additional highlight items will include a choice of a vacation destination, between four different destinations, including an All-Inclusive Jamaican trip, a trip to Tuscany, a trip to Sedona, AZ, or a Kentucky Bourbon tour.

An estimated 25 handguns, rifles, and shotguns will also be up for bid during both auctions.