News

Drought conditions continue in the state, despite the weekend of storms that rolled through the area.

NeRAIN reported a collective 0.243 inches fell in Clay County between May 6-8. Since Jan. 1, the National Weather Service-Hastings has reported 3.98 inches of precipitation has fallen in the area.

UNL’s U.S. Drought Monitor states half of Nebraska sits in D3 (Extreme Drought). Clay County has been put in the D2 (Severe Drought) area, as of May 4.

Clay County and surrounding areas were put in a Severe Thunderstorm Watch most of the weekend, with wind speeds reaching speeds of 60-70 mph.

Other weather conditions included light rain, fog, hail (especially in the southern part of the county), lightning, and thunder.

The NWS is expecting a marginal risk of storms this week, with the possibility of them arriving Wednesday and Thursday; Clay County is at slight risk for those days.

Harvard and Sandy Creek seniors received their diplomas Saturday, May 6, putting the focus on the hard work each student had done to reach graduation day. Above left: Aisley Schliep’s mom and dad, Dixie and Dale, hug and congratulate her during the flower ceremony. Above right: Ireland McGinnis receives her diploma from Harvard Public School Board President Janet Hachtel.

Members of the Sutton City Council approved final plans for a new look for the Sutton water tower, located in southwest Sutton.

The new look will feature a bolder nameplate than what currently appears on the tower. The stand itself will be painted a charcoal gray, as featured in the drawing associated with this story.

City fathers also approved the preliminary plat of the new housing development to develop in the northern- most half of the 80-acre tract of ground, located just east of the Fox Hollow Golf Course.

The first 52 lots of the ground will go into final engineering now by JEO Consulting, with additional discussion to come from the planning and zoning committee as early as July, with hopeful plans to take action on the final engineering in front of the council during it’s Aug. 14 meeting.

The preliminary plat was approved with a retention pond set to be constructed in the southwest area of the first phase of the ground.

On April 16, the families of Tyler and Gabriella Rabbe-Lee gathered at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lincoln to celebrate the baptisms of Gabriella and baby Easton. Tyler is the great-grandson of Darlene Moore, and great-nephew of Pam and Delvin Stahl of Sutton. Pictured from left to right are five generations, including: Tyler and Easton Rabbe-Lee, Mindy Rabbe, Krista (Moore) Welch, and Darlene Moore.

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is seeking applications for the 2023 Nebraska FFA Foundation Grant Program through June 20.

The grant program, in its seventh year, supports Nebraska agricultural education classrooms, FFA programs and individual student Supervised Agricultural Experiences.

Funds are provided by supporters of the Nebraska FFA Foundation and its general fund.

This year, grant requests may be any amount up to $10,000 for classroom and chapter projects, and up to $2,000 for student SAE projects.

Successful proposals from 2022 varied from welding supplies to animal learning lab materials to curriculum to agricultural sales SAEs.

Forty-four students—20 from Harvard and 29 from Sandy Creek—will graduate from their respective schools Saturday. Both graduation ceremonies begin at 2 p.m., May 6, at each school. Harvard’s ceremony will include a performance from the Harvard Senior Choir as they sing “Keep Holding On.”

Maria Perez and Aimee Whetstine-Jones will present the class history, followed by the flower dedication.

Scholarships will be presented by HPS Guidance Counselor Michaela Bourn, followed by the class address by HPS Superintendent Michael Derr.

This year’s class has chosen “Baby” as their recessional song. A reception line will take place in the multi-purpose room following the ceremony.

The 56th commencement of Sandy Creek will include guest speaker Jessica Shipley.

This year’s class motto is, “We graduated. Don’t look so surprised.”

The class flower is red and white roses, and the class colors are also red and white.

The hand-sewn, well-preserved 93-year-old quilt arrived to Ardyth Anderson’s house in a small box.

Although she was expecting the package, her anticipation to open it would have to wait until Friday, April 28, when she and two others had a quilt unboxing “party” at the Clay County Museum.

The quilt in question was created by 30 women in a Harvard sewing group in 1930, and ended up in North Carolina, where it’s called home for the past 30 years.

Anderson, Joyce Schlick, and Lucille Schliep were wonderfully surprised to find the quilt in such good condition when they opened the box, and were equally amazed at the meticulous details sewn into it.

Colorful florals, detailed butterflies, and intricate names cover the front, showcasing the talents of those memorialized on the quilt.

Carmen Samples, the daughter of Beulah Frank Wagoner, inherited the quilt when her mother passed away in 2004.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol are investigating a stabbing that resulted in the death of Kristaff Gonzalez.

At about 8 p.m., Saturday, April 29, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a stabbing that had occurred at the residence of 503 4th Avenue in Harvard.

The Sheriff’s Office responded and located one person, 30-year-old Gonzalez of Harvard, with multiple stab wounds.

Gonzalez was transported to Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, but passed away on the way to the hospital.

Preliminary investigation shows that Gonzalez had been involved in a fight with another person when a third person intervened and stabbed Gonzalez.

The third party, a 24-yearold male, remained on scene and was taken into custody by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office then requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol for the investigation.

The first Carnegie library opened its doors in 1883 in Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie’s hometown of Dunfermline, Scotland. During the next 46 years, his donations built a total of 2,509 community libraries across 14 nations.

The Clay Center Public Library is one such Carnegie building, constructed in 1917.

Carnegie had a vision that any small community that wanted a library should have one. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen visited the Clay Center library on April 26 to share a new vision—that every small community library in the state should be connected to fiberoptic internet.

“Reliable and fast broadband internet connection is an essential component to quality of life,” he said, opening a press conference to celebrate National Library Week, April 23-29, by highlighting the Nebraska E-rate Special Construction State Matching Grant Program.

The first Carnegie library opened its doors in 1883 in Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegieís hometown of Dunfermline, Scotland. During the next 46 years, his donations built a total of 2,509 community libraries across 14 nations.

The Clay Center Public Library is one such Carnegie building, constructed in 1917.

Carnegie had a vision that any small community that wanted a library should have one. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen visited the Clay Center library on April 26 to share a new vision—that every small community library in the state should be connected to fiberoptic internet.

“Reliable and fast broadband internet connection is an essential component to quality of life,” he said, opening a press conference to celebrate National Library Week, April 23-29, by highlighting the Nebraska E-rate Special Construction State Matching Grant Program.