Columns

By Tory Duncan

When life throws me curveballs, I have a tendency to openly write my feelings down in a book. No, I won’t call it a diary by any means, but writing is just my way to get some thoughts out, versus “talking to myself.”

This week, as I write my column on Memorial Day, I reflect on the life of a woman that has been a part of my life for the better part of 44 years.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

It all began Thursday night when I was putting lights on Loetta’s bike.

It came out of nowhere and without warning began attacking.

The “it” I’m referring to is the dreaded demon that is a junebug.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

Finally! The sun is shining (well, not lately, but for the most part), the temperature has gone up, and let me tell you how happy I am that I can sleep with my bedroom window open!

But here’s the thing about summer, while it’s all smiles and ice cream cones and warmer weather, it’s also a dangerous part of the year.

Now, I’m not going to go all mom on people (although my mom-voice has come out a lot more over the past six months, or so), but I am going to give everyone a kind reminder.

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By Tory Duncan

As most of you read the headline you may be wondering if I’ve lost my mind, because of course a loss of a business in any community can and is harmful to smalltown life and the lifestyle of a community.

Many of you are aware that I do sit on the Sutton Community Home Board of Directors, as well as the Sutton Community Home Foundation Board. Equally, for sometime now, nearly three and a half years, the Foundation and SCH Board has been trying to launch a campaign to build a new skilled nursing center, not just for Sutton, but for Clay County as a whole to utilize in a time of need for their loved ones.

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By Tory Duncan

Over the past 35 years since I have graduated high school, as I mentioned last week, I’ve covered 20 some odd graduation ceremonies in my newspaper career. I have had the luxury of listening in on several salutatory and valedictory speeches that have really hit home! I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard a snoozer speech, because students, within their own way and personality, always deliver strong final speeches to their classmates and those attending.

This year, of the four speeches that I was able to hear, two in Sutton on Saturday and two at Sandy Creek, I once again stood amazed at the level of what Casey Van Kirk and Nathan Hohensee spoke on Saturday and how relaxed and meaningful Sandy Creek’s speakers Maggie Rieckman and Charlotte Okraska were while having fun closing out their high school careers.

By Ashley D. Swanson

There’s something wonderful about the early morning. Something almost calming.

I’m not a morning person; I’ll be the first to admit it. However, on those days when I pull myself out of bed before 7 a.m., I love what the morning brings.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

Sorry, but I’m going to talk about graduation again, mainly because there are two people in my life that need to be recognized.

My twin cousins, Michael and Hannah, will be graduating from Deshler High School Saturday, May 12. They will be the second/third people in two generations to graduate from high school.

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By Tory Duncan

You know it’s pretty amazing how fast 35 years can blow past you! This month 35 years ago, as a spry young 6 foot, 6 inch 185-pound senior in high school, I had the luxury of walking across the stage, saying my goodbyes to Shelton High School and, in many ways, Shelton the community, as I had no idea at the time what path my life would take.

I knew I wanted to be in the newspaper business, that’s what I grew up with, that’s what I knew, and yes, I knew quite a lot about the printing business, as well, just because of the upbringing that I had with my parents.

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By Tory Duncan

For over nine years now, as I inch closer and closer to starting my 10th year at the Clay County News, I’ve had the luxury of experiencing some amazing moments, not just athletically, but in so many ways.

Saturday, while covering the Southern Nebraska Conference Track and Field meet at Sandy Creek High School, something hit me...again!

This time, however, it was a little deeper, it got to the core of what I have been seeing and witnessing for the last nine track seasons.

All of us in this region know Don Bottorf, he’s the guy at the starting line and at the finish line of so many big meets in this region.

White hair and always smiling, with two guns in his hands.... Safe to say Don is shooting smoke!

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In less than two weeks, Nebraska voters go to the polls to begin sorting out the cast of characters for the 2019 Legislature and other statewide offices at the primary election.

There are six seats that have been term-limited and a handful that could have contentious races if Governor Pete Ricketts chooses to, once again, flaunt his personal wealth to derail some incumbents with whom he disagrees. Given the failure of his property tax proposal, that list may have grown.

Two senators have chosen to leave after only one term and two more are hoping to leave at mid-term by running for other statewide offices. Sens. Roy Baker of Beatrice and John Kuehn of Heartwell are calling it quits after one session. Sen. John Murante of Gretna is running for state treasurer in a race against one other Republican. Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse is running for a seat on the Nebraska Public Service Commission against two other Republicans and two Democrats.