News

Wed
22
Mar
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New daycare owner following her heart to serve families

New daycare owner following her heart to serve families

Brooks and Jovie Spilker play with blocks during the open house of Tana’s Tiny Tots Daycare March 18. RITA BRHEL | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Montana Thatcher has been dreaming of this day.

The Edgar woman now holds the keys to her own business: the Fairfield childcare center, located at 305 East 4th Street, renamed Tana’s Tiny Tots LLC.

“When I was in high school,” Thatcher said, “my long-term dream goal was to run a daycare. This is an opportunity that God has given and called me to.”

Growing up south of Clay Center, her first job as a teen was babysitting for various families in the Clay Center, Edgar, Fairfield, and Ong area. She also volunteered in children’s ministry at Clay Center Christian Church.

“I have always felt drawn toward kids,” Thatcher said, “and kids have been drawn toward me as well.”

After graduating high school, she took a childcare position at the Boots and Bose Daycare in Fairfield.

“I knew from the beginning that kids is my passion,” Thatcher said.

Wed
15
Mar
Edgar's picture

New Adams Co. Jail extends welcome to Clay County

Adams County is building a new jail that it hopes will serve regional needs.

Lee Hogan and Chuck Neumann, chair and vice chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners, extended a welcome to the Clay County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting on March 14 at the courthouse in Clay Center.

“Clay County, we consider as our friends and neighbors,” Hogan said, “and we want you to be a part of this as much as possible.”

About a year ago, Adams County broke ground on an 11-acre property along West M Street near U.S. Highway 281 on the south edge of Hastings. The 154-bed facility is on track to open for operation by early October, Hogan explained. The jail will be equipped to house adult male and female inmates, as well as provide short-term stays for juvenile offenders.

“Clay County and Webster County are the first counties that came to mind,” Hogan said. “We can figure out a way to work together.”

Wed
15
Mar
Edgar's picture

Beck Andersen named Firefighter, EMT of Year

Beck Andersen named Firefighter, EMT of Year
Beck Andersen named Firefighter, EMT of Year

ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS During the annual Edgar Fire and Rescue Awards night, Darrell Beck and Kelly Andersen were honored as the 2022 Firefighter and EMT of the Year, respectively. Additionally, Austin Bailey, pictured with Beck at the left, was named the Firefighter Rookie of the Year. Andersen not pictured. Prior to the awards, Joe McReynold, pictured above at right, was honored for his 20 years of service on the rural board. He served as the secretary and treasurer for a number of years and finished out his time as the president.

During the annual Edgar Fire and Rescue Awards night, Darrell Beck and Kelly Andersen were honored as the 2022 Firefighter and EMT of the Year, respectively. Additionally, Austin Bailey, pictured with Beck at the left, was named the Firefighter Rookie of the Year. Andersen not pictured. Prior to the awards, Joe McReynold, pictured above at right, was honored for his 20 years of service on the rural board. He served as the secretary and treasurer for a number of years and finished out his time as the president.

Wed
15
Mar
Edgar's picture

Sutton Council hires seasonal staff, awards bid for water tower refurbishment

Sutton City Council members convened at city hall Monday, March 13 to take action on several line items on the monthly agenda.

Members heard from Lori Ferguson of the South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD), about plans to move forward on the second phase of the downtown revitalization project, which will cover the north half of the downtown business district along Saunders Ave.

Upgrades to curbs, sidewalks and walk ups to businesses, among other work, could be looking at a late Fall 2023 start, or an early Spring 2024 start on the improvement project, but no firm dates have been set.

SEASONAL STAFFING

Council members then approved three contracts for the upcoming spring and summer outdoor projects at the Sutton cemetery and DLD Park.

Bobbi Itzen was retained as the cemetery supervisor at a rate of $13,000 for a term of employment that will run from April 1, through Sept. 30.

Wed
08
Mar
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Six heading to Class C2 state speech for Sutton

Six heading to Class C2 state speech for Sutton

The OID consisting of Weston Ohrt, Aidan Jones, Carson Mau, Devon Griess, and Owen Schelkopf placed second overall at districts, earning a trip to the state meet in Kearney March 16. ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Six heading to Class C2 state speech for Sutton

Lindsey Ladehoff earned third place in Informative Speaking at districts, punching her ticket to the state meet.

Sutton will be sending six students to the Class C2 state speech meet at Kearney High School. At the C2-4 district meet at Thayer Central, Wednesday, March 1, the OID consisting of Carson Mau, Weston Ohrt, Aidan Jones, Owen Schelkopf, and Devon Griess earned the runner-up spot, punching their tickets to state. Also heading to state is Lindsey Ladehoff, who placed third in Informative Speaking. Two other Sutton students finaled, including Shae Eggers in Serious Prose and Griess in Humorous Prose. Eggers placed fourth while Griess earned sixth. The top three spots go to state, which is slated for Thursday, March 16.

Wed
08
Mar
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Schools across Nebraska receiving swatting calls

The Nebraska State Patrol has received information regarding several false reports of school shootings that have been placed to 911 call centers across Nebraska this morning.

There is no credible information that any such school shooting has taken place in Nebraska today.

Earlier this week, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC), a division of the Nebraska State Patrol, provided a bulletin to law enforcement agencies across the state and the Nebraska Department of Education regarding a trend of “swatting” calls that had been reported in several other states this year, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, and Vermont.

That bulletin advised local agencies to be prepared in the event the calls target Nebraska schools, which is occurring today.

Wed
08
Mar
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Sandy Creek staff put to the test during cardiac arrest drill

Sandy Creek staff put to the test during cardiac arrest drill

Jared Blackwell, right, was the first person on scene, with Andrew Kuta arriving seconds after. Here, Blackwell performs CPR while Kuta cuts open the “student’s” shirt so they can apply an AED. ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Sandy Creek’s School Nurse Brenda Searle, with the help of representatives from Project Adam through Children’s Hospital in Omaha, and Clay County Emergency Management put together a surprise cardiac arrest drill Monday, March 6.

Cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops beating, resulting in CPR.

With the help of Clay County EM Haley Malone, Searle placed a mannequin used to teach CPR near the high school entryway and waited for it to be noticed.

Almost immediately, high school math teacher Jared Blackwell noticed the “unconscious person,” noted on a piece of paper as being a 15-year-old student, and called out that there was a cardiac arrest and he needed help.

From there, Jo Ann Bischoff, high school secretary, announced on the PA system for an AED— automated external defibrillator—and additional help to go to the entryway.

Wed
01
Mar
Edgar's picture

Pheasants Forever Banquet draws in large crowd, honors Conservationist of the Year

Pheasants Forever Banquet draws in large crowd, honors Conservationist of the Year
Pheasants Forever Banquet draws in large crowd, honors Conservationist of the Year
Pheasants Forever Banquet draws in large crowd, honors Conservationist of the Year

During the annual Pheasants Forever Banquet Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Sutton Community Center, the Sutton Volunteer Fire Department burn crew was honored as the Conservationist of the Year. A chainsaw was gifted to the group, as seen in the center photo with Brandon Schiedemann, Corey Ebert, and Tracey Landenberger. The burn crew is a group of firemen that assist people to do control burns on CPP grass and walk-in hunting. Additionally, they help farmers and ranchers control burn cedar trees in pastures. At the far left, local youth Kierra Ebert, Emma Scheidemann, and Brekyn Zoucha sing the National Anthem while Cory Ebert and Regan Jerred stand in the background. At the far right, a line of attendees go through the food line; serving this year’s food are members of the Sutton FFA. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

During the annual Pheasants Forever Banquet Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Sutton Community Center, the Sutton Volunteer Fire Department burn crew was honored as the Conservationist of the Year. A chainsaw was gifted to the group, as seen in the center photo with Brandon Schiedemann, Corey Ebert, and Tracey Landenberger. The burn crew is a group of firemen that assist people to do control burns on CPP grass and walk-in hunting. Additionally, they help farmers and ranchers control burn cedar trees in pastures. At the far left, local youth Kierra Ebert, Emma Scheidemann, and Brekyn Zoucha sing the National Anthem while Cory Ebert and Regan Jerred stand in the background. At the far right, a line of attendees go through the food line; serving this year’s food are members of the Sutton FFA. 

Wed
01
Mar
Edgar's picture

Co. speech teams compete at conference

Co. speech teams compete at conference

Four South Central students medaled at the TVC meet, including McKenzie Petr, Teagan Jarosik, Tripp Bracco, and Paige Amos. COURTESY PHOTO | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Co. speech teams compete at conference

Sutton’s Shae Eggers performs her Serious Prose. She earned fourth place at the SNC meet. ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

South Central traveled to Deshler Feb. 22 for the annual TVC speech meet, while on Feb. 25, SC and Sutton headed for the SNC meet at Superior.

McKenzie Petr, of SC, earned the top spot in Program of Oral Interpretation (POI) at both meets.

Earning runner-up was SC’s Paige Amos in Serious Prose, at TVC. She also placed fourth in POI.

Two additional students from South Central placed at the TVC meet, including Teagan Jarosik, third in Poetry, and Tripp Bracco, sixth in Extemporaneous Speaking.

At the SNC meet, Amos placed fifth in Serious Prose.

From Sutton, Shae Eggers earned fourth in Serious Prose, while earning fifth in Informative Speaking was Lindsey Ladehoff.

Earning sixth place was Kylie Schroetlin in Entertainment Speaking, and the OID consisting of Carson Mau, Weston Ohrt, Aidan Jones, Owen Schelkopf, and Devon Griess.

DISTRICTS

Wed
01
Mar
Edgar's picture

Local EMS departments offered state funding for new ambulances

Local EMS departments offered state funding for new ambulances

The State of Nebraska has notified seven volunteer fire and rescue departments in Clay County about available funding for new ambulances or other emergency service equipment.

So reported Haley Malone, Clay County’s emergency manager, to the Clay County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting on Feb. 21, at the courthouse in Clay Center.

The state is offering $150,000 toward a new ambulance for Clay Center, Edgar, Glenvil, and Sutton, and $120,000 toward a new ambulance for Harvard.

Additionally, each of these local departments plus Fairfield and Trumbull have been offered $49,999 for new equipment.

Malone estimated that a new ambulance costs $336,000 with a delivery date in 2025. It was noted that local departments would need to secure the remaining funds to purchase an ambulance if they accept the state funding.

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