Columns

Frustrations, they come and go in life, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a more frustrating five week stretch since the morning of Saturday, July 29, 2023. Outside of a few big personal losses, of course, these past 38 days, or a month and a week have been challenging, stressful, frustrating, and even angering.

I also know that I’m not the only one that, off and on, has felt these same feelings, and while things could have obviously been much worse, and thankfully they weren’t, it certainly doesn’t tone down the frustrations of what many of us are going through right now.

There’s been a lot of finger pointing, both outwardly, and behind the scenes, but from my perspective, I don’t understand why? I, and my staff, as one of the business buildings “locked down” by damages to our building, have heard and felt the finger point, related to peoples opinions on who’s doing right by helping out, and who they think needs to do more.

Masterpiece: It’s a word that should be used carefully. In my opinion, it can definitely be used when talking about the release of the year-long project by Sandy Creek’s 74 Creative team of videographers, designers, and planners, called “We are SC Football: A Season of Change.” I tip the biggest of 10-gallon hats to all who were involved in the production and direction of this first-ever piece, regarding the rise of the tradition- rich football program on the hill at Sandy Creek High School.

Sorry Mr. Borer, you’ll probably have to explain the 10-gallon hat comment, or I can as well.

I met with Borer and two of his mainstay production professionals, Mason Hinrichs and Hudson Devlin, last Thursday morning, not knowing what this documentary was going to be like. I was not privy to a pre-screening, nor was I able to attend their grand premiere this past Sunday night, but once it was released Monday morning, I was more than ready to soak it all in.

Sunday I learned that a supposed witch was buried in the Aurora Cemetery.

I learned this because I was looking up haunted places in the area, you know, like most normal people do on weekends.

Anyway, was the woman actually a witch? Doubtful, and there are quite a few old news articles stating it is just a rumor and legend probably started by some kids. Regardless, the fact that this legend is still known today is interesting.

The woman, Susan Gavan, was born April 11, 1842, in New York, and died Nov. 26, 1882, in Hamilton County.

An article in the Hamilton County News on Dec. 1, 1882, states, “It becomes the painful duty of THE NEWS to announce the death of Mrs. Gavan, wife of Mr. F. P. Gavan, Aurora, which occurred on Monday last at 9 o’clock a.m., after a short illness.

Even before I joined the fire and rescue department, I respected EMS/ police on the road by getting over and waiting for them to go by in moments of emergency.

However, it seems more often than not this sentiment is forgotten by drivers.

I recently drove the ambulance to Hastings for a medical call, and while a good majority of people got over when they saw us, there were more than I’d like to admit that did not.

In one instance, about four vehicles were pulled over on the westbound lane and a fifth driver decided to pass them, going into our lane—forcing us to slow down—before he finally got back into his lane and preceded on as if an ambulance with it’s lights on wasn’t driving by them.

This doesn’t and shouldn’t start and stop with an ambulance, fire trucks or police car driving by you, it should also be considered when there’s a road emergency and EMS are on-scene.

Someday before I retire, or before the good Lord above calls my name to pass through the pearly gates, I’m going to be more than prepared for the start of a school year, and furthermore, the start of the school activities... BUT...this year is not that year. Once again, the activities crept up and bit me, because this week is the start of an eight-and-a-half to nine-month run that has become like an annual ritual of keeping pace with our four school districts, and the activities that go with each district.

As I woke up Monday morning, laying in my humidity soaked bed from the nasty heat wave we’re dealing with this week, I woke up as foggy as the outdoors was and realized that THIS is the week.

Our annual Fall Sports Preview is in this week’s edition, complete with team pictures and schedules of our fall varsity teams in Sutton and Harvard, as well as at Sandy Creek.

Stunned and shocked might have been the initial impact in my mind this past Saturday morning, when I received a call about what was going on with the storm that rolled through Sutton.

Getting the call from Doc Ebert that “my roof might be in the middle of the street,” was a tad shocking, especially for 7 a.m. on a Saturday, but after letting the storm literally blow through Sutton, leaving a path of destruction, I walked into the back door of the CCN office to witness a literal “river” pouring onto the floor from the ceiling in the front.

I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a tad grumpy at that point, but after standing there for 10 minutes (maybe 5 but it felt like 10), I just sat down on the office couch with Scoop on my lap, and just told myself, “there’s nothing you can do Duncan, chill out, because what’s done is done.”

Last weekend was a memorable one— part because of Harvard’s 150th Celebration and the other part due to the tornado that hit Sutton.

I woke up Saturday morning to the news that severe weather had hit Sutton, and that our CCN office, along with several others on the block, had been damaged.

Also due to the weather— on a lesser scale— Harvard’s 150th events Saturday got pushed back a couple of hours, but once the events and activities started, Harvard’s City Park was busy.

The annual parade had quite a few entries, and there were a lot of people on the sidewalks of the parade route, with kids ready to pounce on the candy thrown to them.

Following the parade, I browsed the park for photos of the car show, horseshoe tournament, face painting, and sand volleyball games, before heading over to Sutton.

It’s a weird feeling you get when seeing that kind of damage in person compared to seeing a photo on your phone.

*Tory’s on vacation and didn’t have a column for this week, so I’m taking his usual spot because I have quite a bit to write about...hope you don’t mind!*

Ilove the Clay County Fair for a lot of reasons, the main one being the people there.

The people I’m specifically referring to are those who run/setup the fair; the kids participating in the fair; and the parents/grandparents/ friends who help each other at the fair.

I mean, the people who come to see the kids show their animals are great too, but I spend a lot of time around those who are there every single day.

We’ve all fallen into a routine as each county fair comes. The kids show, we take their photo (sometimes the kids don’t want their photo taken but still do because they’re patient and great), and then we move to the next event.

As a concerned Clay County resident and retired nurse, I would encourage Clay County citizens to consider the benefits of the Clay County Health Department (CCHD) located at 209 W Fairfield, Clay Center.

I understand the retention of the CCHD is being evaluated by our county supervisors as to whether it is a benefit to residents and a financially sound program.

Our supervisors are elected to serve residents by overseeing the operation and administration of Clay County, while assessing the fiscal ramifications for county taxpayers.

The CCHD is a county public health department umbrellaed under the South Heartland District Health Department and Department of Health and Human Services. Services listed below:

• HOMEHEALTH: Skilled nursing and aide visits under physician direction; including: Treatments, bathing, health teaching, medication set-up and limited homemaker services.

Disclaimer: I have never owned, driven, or ridden a traditional two-wheel motorcycle. I sat on one owned by my late brother. But in more than five decades as a reporter I have covered numerous accidents involving motorcycles with any variety of other vehicles.

I have seen dead bodies and spent time waiting and praying in hospital emergency rooms. I have also covered countless hours of debate about repealing the helmet law.

That said, I must admit I was surprised that the 2023 Legislature passed such a bill (LB91 amended to LB138) to remove the state’s helmet law for riders aged 21 and older who have completed a motorcycle safety course and agree to wear shatterproof protective eye equipment or have a windshield on their bike.

But I shouldn’t have been, given that this Legislature appeared to collectively bristle at laws being shoved down their throats by government. Remember abortion and transgender health care?