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For the past four years, Andrew Kuta has primarily taught secondary math at Sandy Creek, while also teaching a college-level personal health course.

In a nomination letter for Kuta, the person states, “his efforts in the classroom and ability to work with all students in the subject area of math have been outstanding. Mr. Kuta feels the importance of building a rapport with all students, as they in turn will provide their effort in the classroom.

“Students respond in his classes as they are actively engaged and provide appropriate feedback.”

For his efforts in and out of the classroom, Kuta was named Sandy Creek’s December Clay County Schools Staff Member of the Month.

Kuta, a Sandy Creek graduate, said he became a teacher for the opportunity to impact young people in the same way he was positively impacted by his teachers.

Dick Bedlan of Clay Center received a Quilt of Valor during a recent ceremony at the Clay Center American Legion. Pictured from left are: Brad Bieck, holding the quilt and a Post 87 member; Bedlan’s grandson Derek Bedlan and a SAL Squadron 87 member; Bedlan’s son Scott Bedlan; Dick; his wife, Louella, who is also an Auxiliary member of Unit 87; daughter-in-law Claudia Bedlan; and Post 87 Commander Major Gosser.

ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS Driving around the county, it’s easy to see that several people are already into the holiday spirit, as their houses are glowing with Christmas lights and decorations.

The Nebraska Department of Education released the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) results and the Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow, or AQuESTT classifications today.

Both reports provide insight into how students are performing academically on Nebraska’s rigorous college and career readiness state standards.

The results, which closely match those recently released from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, show while Nebraska student performance dipped during the pandemic, the state didn’t have as large of a setback as others in the nation.

“Three weeks ago, NAEP showed us what we were expecting,” Commissioner of Education Matthew Blomstedt said. “Nebraska public schools, while impacted by the pandemic, remained strong. Our statewide assessments are showing similar trends and now is the time for schools to focus supports on the areas that have the most need.”

The Parade of Lights in Sutton is set for Monday, Dec. 5. Saunders Avenue from Maple to Grove will be blocked off from 4-9 p.m. All cars must be moved from Saunders before 4 p.m.

Activities will include pictures with Santa from 5-6:15 p.m., on the north side of Paint and Paper; donuts and jump rope making at Astra Bank, and cookie decorating at the Sutton Bakery from 5-6:30 p.m.; an FFA/ FFA Alumni Scavenger Hunt (details coming soon); and a window decorating contest.

Community voting will take place Nov. 30 through Dec. 5, and will be done online.

Each business will have a QR code to display in their window that will pull up all businesses participating in the contest.

A winner will be announced during the Parade of Lights celebration.

Businesses wanting to participate can call or text Brooke Marshall at 402-4691527 for entry by Friday, Nov. 18.

In the back of the building at 105 N Brown Ave. in Clay Center, where salon chairs and sinks once sat, recording equipment and studio lights now adorn areas of the room.

Big Red Recording Studios, owned and operated by Tony Witherspoon and Jay Shackelford, wanted to offer something new to the public, and took a month to build the recording studio and order equipment.

They said the studio is open to the public for use of recording voiceovers, podcasts, videography, and even taking studio photography shots. Having both been in music for more than 10 years, Witherspoon and Shackelford wanted to offer something to younger generations that they didn’t have locally available to them.

Additionally, the duo said they wanted to work with local music programs and bring in local music talents.

Harvard and South Central’s One Acts competed in the TVC and SNC competitions Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Harvard and David City, respectively.

Harvard co-hosted on its home site with Silver Lake, and earned fifth place in TVC competition with their play, “The Final Dress Rehearsal.”

Additionally, Maizie Boyd was named the TVC Outstanding Actress, while other castmates Veda Thies, Cohen Reutzel, Myles Ferguson, and Austin Harms earned honorable mentions.

South Central headed to David City with their play “Holmes & Watson: The Game’s Afoot,” earning a superior rating in the SNC competition; the technical crew earned third place as well.

Students earning outstanding acting awards were Vojtech Povolny, Sean Heaton, and McKenzie Petr.

Next up for the two schools will be district one act on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, a day of giving to local nonprofit organizations.

It is an opportunity for people to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need.

People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during Giving Tuesday—whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for issues, sharing a skill or giving to a cause—everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts.

Generosity gives everyone the power to make a positive change in the lives of others and is a fundamental value anyone can act on.

There are several nonprofit opportunities in Clay County dedicated to relieving hunger, and with the rising cost of food, it hits those on a fixed income/budget the hardest.

Ethan Shaw, the son of Brian and Julie Shaw of rural Fairfield, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Josh, and three uncles.

A member of Troop 94 in Fairfield, the Sandy Creek sophomore took it upon himself, after hearing a suggestion from Sandy Creek educator Corbin Hansen, to upgrade Sandy Creek’s Elementary playground concrete pad for his project.

Shaw created and stenciled playground games on the pad, which consists of two basketball courts, two four-square game pads and a mat ball pad.

“After Mr. Hansen approached me about the need for the outdoor concrete pads, I stenciled in basketball court lines and several other lines to be used by elementary students,” Shaw shared.

Shaw estimated that it took about six total hours over the course of two days near the end of this past summer break to complete the project.

“She’s always willing to help out anywhere needed. She holds the students to high expectations and has a great relationship with the students. It’s amazing watching her teach the students.”

Thus was said in a nomination letter about Sandy Creek music teacher Lacey Franzen.

She was nominated and selected as November’s Clay County Schools Staff Member of the Month for her continuous dedication and respect to her students and school.

Franzen, who is in her 18th year of teaching, became a teacher because she loved being in school. She’s taught preschool through 12th grade music, as well as theatre and computer tech.