Columns

By Ashley D. Swanson

Sometimes it’s funny how things happen in life. For example, how I went from being the “new kid on the block” in December 2014, and walking through the doors of the Clay Center Senior Center to cover a meeting, to being able to call myself a member of one of the greatest groups I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.

I’m not exactly sure on the date, but I know when I went to the Relay For Life meeting at the beginning of 2015, I wasscared stiff, as I was still new, and when I walked through those doors I was greeted by a decently-sized group of people (none of which I knew).

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By Tory Duncan

Once in a great while we all go through moments in life that just leaves a lasting impact. That has been the case for me this past year as I served as the Nebraska Press Association’s advertising service’s president.

The experience impacted me in so many ways, but in the biggest way, would be the impact that the Clay County News staff has allowed my service to our 180 member newspapers throughout the State of Nebraska.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

When I look at my stove, I get a smile on my face...not because it’s a stove, but because of what it stands for.

The same smile comes across my face often when I look at my dining room table, or my recliner, or the many photographs hanging on the wall.

I smile because of what they represent, and that’s that someone out there cares.

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By Tory Duncan

If we’re not careful with our small-town life, things could very well change fast in smalltown America!

Small towns are going to become smaller, school districts are going to become even smaller and a focus will become what happened to small-town America... In our case small-town Nebraska!

We’ve seen this all across the state and nation, small towns slowly getting smaller.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

Let me begin by saying every parent is different when it comes to parenting their kids. I understand and truly respect that. However, like many others, I have my own opinions on how kids should be raised, even if I am not a parent myself.

Last Thursday, while driving Loetta to school, we were listening to one of our usual radio stations when the question, “Should kids be paid to finish their homework?” was posed.

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By Tory Duncan

I often times find myself holding back on my thoughts and feelings in some areas, especially on the political stage, but not this week.....

Monday in several news outlets it was shared that President Donald Trump exclaimed, “American farmers are great patriots. They’ll understand we’re doing this for the country. And we’ll make it up to them.”

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By Tory Duncan

My term as president of the Nebraska Press Advertising Service (NPAS), one of the two corporations under the Nebraska Press Association, comes to a close here in a few weeks.

The past year, to say the least, has been quite the ride. Lots of changes, a great deal of decisions, but more than anything, a huge amount of learning to be one of two leaders for nearly 180 Nebraska newspapers, both daily and weekly.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

D o you know how funny it is to watch a bunch of teenagers search for eggs? It’s incredibly funny, in case you were wondering.

Saturday I hosted my first holiday in the new house. Due to the weather, our Easter plans moved from Easter day to Easter Eve. Loetta and I hosted 10 people, ourselves included, so our house was more than a little busy, but that’s OK.

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By Tory Duncan

Throughout my career in the newspaper and printing business I’ve been told to be involved, pay attention and be a part of the communities that you live in.

One bit of advice several of my mentors always shared with me, including my father, is that we’re all only as good as the people we surround ourselves with.

That rings so loudly in my mind nearly each and everyday.

So when Saturday night came and the Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce honored me with the “Volunteer of the Year” award, during their annual banquet, to say the least I was humbled and had I took the microphone to share a proper thank you it certainly would include the chamber for the honor, but more importantly it would be the many other people that I surround myself with that makes this honor that much more special.

By Ashley D. Swanson

O ne of my favorite parts of covering an event is re-living it through the photos afterward.

When I’m back at the office and move back and forth between this photo and that one, laughing at the funny expressions or smiling at the precious ones.

This weekend I was able to do that again. When Sunday morning came, I unloaded all of the photos I had taken over the week/weekend and re-lived those moments.

I re-lived Thursday’s state speech competition at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, laughing at the funny faces and remembering the amazing speeches that got our county students to the final meet.

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