News

Housing Development Corporation is conducting a meeting for the public and interested contractors starting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Harvard Community Room, 128 N. Harvard Avenue, Harvard.

Housing Development Corporation has received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to undertake an Owner Occupied Rehabilitation project.

The purpose of the grant program is to help low to moderate-income homeowners make safety, energy efficiency and other necessary improvements to their homes.

Staff from Housing Development will host the event and will discuss the program with those in attendance.

If you are unable to attend the meeting and are interested in the program please contact Michelle Callahan, Housing Development Corporation, 402-461- 8407.

For more than 35 years, the Clay County Giving Tree has been fulfilling Christmas wishes for families all over the county.

The wrapping party for presents will begin at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Clay County Fairgrounds Activity Building. Adults, or those who are able to drive, are needed to help deliver presents that evening. People can show up at 7:30 p.m.; for questions, message the Clay County Giving Tree Facebook page.

Recently, forms were sent to county schools, churches, nursing homes, and other agencies, and for this year’s Giving Tree, hundreds of tags were made and hung on trees.

Tags will be available this week at all Clay County Cornerstone Banks in Clay Center, Edgar, Glenvil, Harvard, and Sutton, as well as at the Clay County Courthouse, Pinnacle Bank in Fairfield, and Waypoint Bank in Clay Center.

For those who are not shoppers but would like to donate to the Giving Tree can do so at all of the listed bank locations.

The Clay County Museum, based in Clay Center, will host its annual Christmas at the Museum event from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5.

Families can come enjoy the history of the museum, as well as do activities and view Christmas trees decorated for the event.

Additionally, on Sunday, Dec. 12, also from 1-4 p.m., the museum will be open for those wishing to view the Christmas trees.

Sutton’s Parade of Lights has moved to the first Saturday of the month, Dec. 4.

Christmas caroling will begin at 3 p.m., with carolers at the Sutton Community Home and Assisted Living until 3:30 p.m.; at the Horseshoe Bend duplexes from 3:30-4 p.m.; and Nolde Center from 4-4:30 p.m. They will be taking any special requests from 4:30-5 p.m.

Sutton FFA and alumni are sponsoring a 101 Dalmatians Scavenger Hunt from 3-7 p.m., and from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Friends of the Library are hosting Christmas crafts at the library.

Hayrack rides will be from 3:30-5 p.m., on Saunders Avenue. Astra Bank will be open and offering hot dogs from 4-6 p.m.

Kids cookie decorating at the Sutton Bakery will run from 4-6 p.m., with The Makers Specialty Coffee set up at Therapeutic Massage Center and Midtown Salon from 4-8 p.m.

For the better part of a year now, Edgar-based Superior iNET has been in the process of burying fiber internet lines to areas east and south of the Burlington Northern/SantaFe rail line in Sutton. With that part of the community now live and ready to be served, Jeff Shuck, with the local service announced that as of Nov. 12, Superior iNET has received a permit from the BNSF line to bore under the tracks and begin preparations to connect the north and west areas of Sutton in the very near future.

“We’ll focus first on the north half of the downtown business district with overhead fiber lines, and then work our into the residential reaches,” Shuck shared.

In announcing the plans to move to the north and west areas of Sutton, Shuck also announced a new installation perk to connect to the three different levels of fiber internet service.

Harvard’s One Act, “Ug, The Caveman Musical,” earned top honors during the Twin Valley Conference hosted at Harvard Nov. 16.

In addition to being named champion, Harvard’s Kinzee Derr and Austin Harms earned Best Supporting Actress and Actor.

Harvard also had a number of honorable mentions for their performances, including Maizie Boyd, Derr, Alyssa Ferguson, Myles Ferguson, Delainey Gaughen, Austin Harms, Piper Porter, and Ethyn Whetstine-Jones.

Sandy Creek’s One Act, “Laffin’ School,” was unable to compete at the Southern Nebraska Conference, also on Nov. 16, due to illnesses.

Clay County District Court Judge Stephen R. Illingworth sentenced Cody A. Bohlen of Fairfield Nov. 15 to four separate counts.

Bohlen previously withdrew his Not Guilty pleas to Counts I, II, V, and VI, entering a plea of No Contest to each.

Illingworth found him guilty on all stated counts. The remaining counts, III, IV, VII and VIII were dismissed with prejudice.

On Count I, Assault of an Officer/Healthcare provider, Class IIIA Felony, Bohlen was sentenced to three years imprisonment with 18 months post-release supervision.

On Count II, Resisting Arrest-First Offense, Class I Misdemeanor, Bohlen received a sentence of one year imprisonment to be served concurrent to Count I.

Bohlen was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment on Count V, Refusing to submit to test-first offense, Class W Misdemeanor. This is to be served concurrent to Counts I and II. Additionally, on Count V, Illingworth included a $500 fine and six months license revocation.

On Nov. 11, Clay County schools honored veterans with programs that included music, guest speakers and posting of the colors. Above, Sandy creek students perform a song for veterans.

Sutton Legion Post members post the colors at the start of Sutton Public School’s Veterans Day program.

Harvard’s Veterans Day program’s guest speaker was U.S. Army veteran Steven Dillman. He served from 1997-2006, primarily as a heavy equipment transport operator and also as a machine gunner M249 SAW. Dillman was deployed to Iraq from 2004-06.

Clay County District Court Judge Stephen R. Illingworth sentenced Linus A. Cloet on Nov. 15 in district court with 10-12 years on Count I, Pandering, and one year for Count II, Solicitation of Prostitution, to be served concurrently at the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

“He took no responsibility for his actions until today,” Illingworth said of Cloet.

On Sept. 22, Cloet entered a no contest plea to the two counts, which Illingworth found Cloet guilty of. Pandering is a Class II Felony, with a possibility of one to 50 years imprisonment, and Solicitation of Prostitution is a Class I Misdemeanor, with a maximum of one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.

During the Nov. 15 sentencing, Special Deputy Clay County Attorney Sandra Allen added some final comments, noting how Cloet chooses vulnerable, lower economical men and begins to groom them, eventually introducing them to fast cash.

South Central Nebraska Unified School District #5 Board of Education has extended district superintendent Julie Otero’s contract for another year, after a failed motion for nonrenewal.

The board met on Nov. 10 for its regular monthly meeting at Lawrence-Nelson High School in Nelson.

Otero’s contract was among several agenda items.

Prior to the motion to not renew her contract, the board entered a 102-minute executive session, closed to the public, to discuss an unnamed staff member’s job performance and contract.

Upon returning to the public session of the meeting, the board voted on a nonrenewal motion made by Phil Janda and seconded by Kelsie Kathman, both of Lawrence. The motion failed in a 6-6 tie, triggering the renewal of Otero’s contract for the 2022-23 school year.