News

Temperatures that failed to get above zero degrees over much of the weekend, with windchills dipping to nearly 50-below in much of Clay County, as much of the eastern two-thirds of the state of Nebraska was taking on heavy doses of snowfall during the past week. In Clay County alone, the National Weather Service office out Hastings has estimated that eight-12 inches of snow covered the ground over the course of two storms that blasted the county last week. Here, a tractor on the Jesse and Shelli Mohnike farm, just south and west of Sutton shows the magnitude of the blowing snow over the weekend.

The Sutton Community Home Foundation Board of Directors, along with the Sutton Community Home Board of Directors and administration will set out on their second attempt at a Capital Campaign to the nearly 60-year old nursing home beginning next week, Tuesday, Jan. 16, when the SCH Foundation welcomes Jim Rogers of the Steier Group, a capital campaign fundraising firm out of Omaha.

Rogers will bring with him a wealth of experience and background as he spearheads a new Planning Study for the foundation and SCH board.

Rogers is a native Nebraskan, born in Omaha, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He has worked on projects for the Steier Group in Chicago, Kansas City, Nashville, Port St. Lucie, and most recently finished work in Bellevue for a food pantry. When not working, Rogers enjoys cooking, smoking various meats for friends and family, traveling and yearning for the Huskers to return to a winning season.

The Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce has set Monday, Jan. 22, as the date on which they will host their annual meeting, beginning at 6 p.m. A social gathering, followed by a buffet, at a cost of $15 per person, will be held at the Flat River Grill located at 113 South Saunders Ave.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to the Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce by emailing the number attending to: suttonchamber2014@ gmail.com The meeting, which will be presided over by president Julie Haag, will feature a presentation and discussion with Erv Portis of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

Portis has been in discussions with Sutton Mayor Tim Anderson and will talk with those attending about how the State of Nebraska can potentially assist Sutton with its recovery efforts following the July 29 EF-1 tornado that caused substantial damage to Sutton’s downtown district.

This pair of cottonwood trees, located near Verona, just northeast of Clay Center, stand tall amid a heavy fog event that blanketed much of south-central Nebraska on the first day of 2024

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Majors is named first-ever Applicator of the Year by NE Agri-Business Assoc.

Jason Majors, a lifetime resident of Sutton has set the bar high in his profession, as Majors was recently honored by the Nebraska Agri-Business Association (NABA) as “Applicator of the Year” for 2022.

In the announcement by the NABA, “Excellent service to our customers is the heart of our business and we all know the value of a great applicator. The applicator of the year was established to recognize a commercial applicator providing outstanding service, good stewardship in their community, and exceptional leadership through mentoring or training.”

The announcement also shared that “Jason started his application career in 1994 with Sutton Coop Grain. In 2004, he joined George Bros as an applicator and over the last 10 years, has added the role of training new applicators to his duties.

JANUARY 4, 2023 ISSUE

Sutton's Fox Hollow Motel changing ownership

Small Town Hospitality of International Falls, MN was set to close on the sale of the Fox Hollow Motel according to former managers Alan and Pam Schroetlin. The Schroetlin's had managed the Sutton motel for 12 years, and are planning to retire.

According to the STH's website, the company’s motels are contactless and they are run by an 'invisible service approach,' which means guests 'are in control of your stay, everything you need and nothing you don't.'

STH according to their website has motels in Ontario, Canada; International Falls, MN; Algoma, WI; and Benson, MN.

JANUARY 11, 2023 ISSUE

Sen. Murman tabbed as education chair during the 90-day, 108th Legislature

KPE Consulting Engineers of Omaha was busy Dec. 18-20 doing an overall structural engineer study on the entire west half of the damaged North Saunders Ave., downtown business district in Sutton.

The Omaha firm was hired by the City of Sutton at a total cost of $26,250 “scope of services” study to help the City of Sutton, and business and building owners affected by the July 29, EF-1 tornado that damaged the entire west side of the downtown business district, as well as, leaving a damaging impact on the east side of the North Saunders Ave. business district, along with many other residential properties, the Trails End Motel, and the Fox Hollow Golf Course’s maintenance shed, and cart sheds.

For the majority of Tina Buckhalter’s life, the Giving Tree has been a part of her holiday season. To her, it’s not the Christmas season without the Giving Tree.

The annual wrapping event began over 35 years ago and was started by Buckhalter’s parents, Ed and Judy Barnes. Years later, the Giving Tree has grown and continued to remain an influential part of the family’s holiday season.

In the weeks leading up to the wrapping, people can pick a tag and shop for someone in need. Last Wednesday, community members gathered to wrap the nearly 1,000 gifts.

“I think what makes the Giving Tree unique or special is that the people that come in and help are doing this because they are from this community,” Buckhalter said. “I think that is just their way to kind of give back something.”