News

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.

Edgar’s Bob Crumbliss, center, was honored with a Quilt of Valor Friday, Nov. 11, by the Edgar Legion Auxiliary. Presenting the quilt are Pat Skinner, left, and Pat Hyland.

Following the presentation of the colors, Harvard choir members sing the National Anthem at Friday morning’s Veterans Day program.

Jennifer Clifford, the former business/office manager for the Sutton Community Home and Hillcrest View Assisted Living, made her second appearance in Clay County Court, Tuesday, Nov. 8, in front of judge Michael P. Burns.

Clifford, 40, of rural Exeter, will be represented in the case by court-appointed attorney Michelle Oldham, with Clay County attorney John Lyons representing the State of Nebraska in the ongoing case.

The Honorable Burns retained the $25,000 personal recognizance bond against Clifford, as the case moves toward a Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, preliminary hearing, set for 3:15 p.m. in the Clay County courtroom.

Gary Rohrer, right, was named the 2022 Outstanding 4-H Leader and received the Herman J. &  Alene M. Valentine Memorial Award, presented by Dennis Valentine. 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) launched #StillServing, a campaign to highlight the many ways America’s veterans continue to serve in their local communities after transitioning from the military, in February 2020.

What started as an awareness campaign has become a social movement as veterans across the country continue to step up to share stories of how they are still serving.

More than 1,000 veterans stories have been shared through news coverage, website features and magazine and newsletter articles.

Of those stories shared, one centers on Harvard’s Steven Dillman, who is also being honored for his dedication to country and community in the #StillServing campaign.

An Iraq war veteran, Dillman is #StillServing by devoting his post-military life to helping other veterans.

After the military, he was inpatient at the VA for PTSD. It was there that he discovered the Military BibleStick, an MP3 device with the entire Bible on it for listening.

A haunting in Clay County

NOAA released its 202223 Winter Outlook for the United States. The outlook is based on several dynamical and statistical models along with ongoing climate trends, and specifically relates to the three-month period of December- January-February (DJF). North Central Kansas:

• For temperature, there are no strong signals to favor either warmer or colder than normal, therefore the outlook is for equal chances of above, below or near normal temperatures. Normal variability of temperatures should be anticipated.

• For precipitation, signals lean toward slightly better odds for drier than normal conditions.

South Central Nebraska:

• For temperature, there are no strong signals to favor either warmer or colder than normal, therefore the outlook is for equal chances of above, below or near normal temperatures. Normal variability of temperatures should be anticipated.