Columns

Obviously those that know me have figured out that birds are my thing, but the funny thing, is they haven’t always been. Take, for instance, Sandhill Cranes used to be more of a nuisance to me as I was growing up in the heart of their annual winter/ spring migration.

I didn’t take a liking until I got myself back into photography, and quite honestly, not until I moved to Clay County in 2009. Birds were just birds, but over the course of the past 13ish years here in the county, birds of all sizes have caught my eye, because they are so prevalent during the migration through Clay County and to the north and west of the county.

Confessions from the heart lead off the ole’ Bull this week, and I’ll admit, this week the topic did NOT come from my own mind, but from a great long-time friend of mine. A man (and his newspaper staff) that took over my “home” newspaper....and it comes from the shear depths of my passion for this business, but even more, from the way I was brought up in the community newspaper business.

Over the years I’ve almost “preached” the fact that what we do as a staff for the Clay County News isn’t for a living, it’s for a love of those that WE work for...our readers. Those that give us feedback, suggest story ideas and in the end, those that enjoy what you see and read each week in the Clay County News.

Steve Glenn and his staff at the Shelton Clipper, known as the paper that is “Your Platte Valley Voice - Our Towns - Our People,” have hit a homerun in my mind with their effort to find a new place at the “news table.”

Post-season travels, as I highlighted a week ago are well underway for parents, fans and family members alike this winter sports season. My post-season run this past Saturday took me to Madison, a town that I have driven through, but never have stopped.

The C-1 District wrestling tournament for the South Central Red Raiders was held at the impressive Madison High school.

It was the 112-mile trip north to Madison High School that began the hightlight. I always enjoy a new route that I’ve never travel, well at least part of the route I had never taken before.

After getting north of Stromsburg I decided to take a left at Highway 81 and 92 intersections and drive up Highway 39 to Silver Creek, which started the “new adventure for me.”

Travels in this business can be many, and I’m not just talking about miles on a vehicle, but miles on my 57-year-old body. Saturday’s final day of the Southern Nebraska Conference tournament in Utica may have been one of the longest, but most enjoyable days I’ve had during the basketball seasons, as I attended my 14th SNC tournament over the course of my tenure with the Clay County News.

Sure, there are events that are super long, like state track in a downpour or blistering heat, or state wrestling when you cover three days of action, which typically have been 14 hour days, each day.

Saturday’s SNC tournament, however, while it’s not a typical occurance for us, it was a day in which I took in/ covered five basketball games, four of which were our county teams, the Sandy Creek boys and girls, as well as the Sutton boys and girls. For my fifth game of the day, I helped out another local paper by capturing some photos.

Sandy Creek Elementary students celebrated 100 days of learning Feb. 2, with some of them aging a few years. Many students, as seen above and below, dressed up in “elderly” wear, including glasses attached to chains, using canes and walkers, sporting wrinkle lines, and hunching over.

Over the weekend I took a trip down south to my hometown, one to visit my parents and sister, but also because I was covering Harvard in the TVC basketball tournament.

A couple of weeks ago my sister Zoey broke her leg, and being a 5-year-old it was a pretty awful experience for her.

I went down the day it happened, but hadn’t seen her since then so I figured it was time for a visit. Plus, she started letting people sign and draw on her cast—which is pink and glittery—so you know I had to go do that too.

After spending Friday evening at my parent’s house, I took Saturday afternoon to spend in Deshler.

It’s been about four years since I stepped foot in my former high school, and not much had changed. The parking lot is still gravel, and while there’s now a roof over the entrance, the inside of the school hasn’t really changed.

Winter always seems to be a long and tiring season for me, that is unti I reach the point of the winter sports season that began this week...conference events. This week, at least for me, started the race to the finish of the winter sports season.

When I reach the point that brings on conference wrestling and conference basketball tournament I know it’s time to tighten the belt on the jeans, get in the Jeep and get ready to roll, as not only is it a race to the finish line so to speak, it’s a race to make some downtime...at least somehow.

Saturday started it all with the Southern Nebraska Conference wrestling meet in Geneva, as well as the Twin Valley Conference basketball tournament. Then hit the Southern Nebraska Conference basketball tournaments for the girls and boys.

Many women in my family have worked in the medical field at one time or another.

They’ve served as ER nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Medical Assistants, Registered Nurses, and a lot in between.

Growing up they inspired me to want to help and take care of people; it’s a personality trait I’m forever thankful to have.

When I got old enough (16), I became a CNA and continued to do so on and off throughout college and into my “adult life,” until my knees couldn’t handle it anymore.

I love the medical field and highly admire those who work in it and have a passion for the field, especially now.

In saying all of that, I found a way to get back into the field of helping people, by joining an EMS department. Although I am still working on my EMT license, I am able to help where needed, whether that’s driving the ambulance or writing notes for the EMT.

Impressions that last a lifetime oftentimes can be very rare, but as I mentioned in the Bull, the 2021 Clay County News “Family of the Year” recipients are a family that certainly will leave a lasting impression, not only on me but many that have been touched by the Terry and Kelley Owens family of Harvard, and that ain’t no bull!

Terry and Kelley, along with their son Jarod and his wife Katie and their children, along with the Owens’ daughter Brandi are special people to many, because as the Owens family shared during an interview with them, “those around us are special to us.”

As much as I love my office—especially now when it’s chilly outside—I enjoy being able to get out and about in our county.

The first couple of weeks in January are almost always slow, leaving us with not a lot to cover and smaller newspaper editions.

However, things have started to pick up a bit and although I do love a free evening every once in awhile, I’m ready for the busyness.

Of course there’s still ongoing basketball games and wrestling matches, but now we’ve added in speech meets, other school events and even some community events.

Speech began last week with Sutton heading to CNFL; SC’s meet at Fairbury was cancelled due to the weather. Thayer Central’s meet this Saturday will see all three schools— Harvard’s first meet of the season—and I’m excited to see what everyone has prepared.

Sutton’s Novice crew had quite a bit of success at the CNFL meet (if you’re so inclined to learn what places they got, the article is just a column over).