News

Members of the Sutton Housing Authority celebrated the organization’s 40th year of service to the Sutton community Tuesday, Sept. 7, and commemorated the activities. They also honored two long-time individuals for their service to the board, as well as highlighted the past 40 years since the Board of Directors began in 1977.

Current board chairman Delvin Stahl highlighted the years of service to the community by remembering the initial members of what was then called the Sutton Housing Committee, which was appointed by then Sutton Mayor Harold Smith.

Members of that initial committee included: Forrest Brown, president, Marjorie Finley, secretary, and board members back in 1977, which included Clarence Hurst, Thomas Huber, Betty Sheridan, Earl Vauck, and Marge Yost.

Members of the Sutton City Council took on a lengthy agenda Monday, Sept. 13, as council members dealt with 26 agenda items, with seven of those items taking the city fathers into executive session to deal with personnel matters, as well as three LB 840 applications for two daycare facilities, employee evaluations, city administrator Jeff Hofaker’s contract and potential housing developments.

Members adopted the 2021- 22 fiscal year budget beginning Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022. The operational budget, which appeared in the Sept. 8 issue of the Clay County News, was adopted with a 12 percent increase over the 2020 budget, as the new operational budget will be $7,228,681.61, with the new property tax request set to $874,955, as the tax rate has increased from 0.760440 in 2020 to 0.823921.

Before the 39th annual Old Trusty Antique and Collectors Show begins Saturday, there will be a tractor drive at 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10.

Participating tractors will line up at the water tower on the south side of the Clay County Fairgrounds, and then head toward Glenvil.

Admission is $7 a day for adults; 6-12-year-olds are $1; children 5 and under are free. This includes free parking, evening shows, and shuttle access.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11

Food stands open to the public at 6:30 a.m., before the raising of a flag and the show opening at 8 a.m.

Team draft horses and mules will be on the track in front of the arena starting at 9:30 a.m., with ensilage chopping and corn shelling beginning at 10 a.m., northwest of the arena.

It all started with Gary Brennfoerder.

International Harvester has a deep history in the Brennfoerder clan, and once Gary began working with the tractor, it became a family tradition.

And an obsession, according to several family members.

Brad and Stan, sons of Gary, started participating in tractor pulls with International Harvester tractors in 1980. Gary also had a hand in said pulls.

Since then, the tradition of pulling International Harvester’s has traveled down the family genes to the current generation.

So why Farmall IH’s?

“Dad always had Farmall tractors,” Stan said, later noting Gary had four or five IH tractors in his collection, including a 1954 classic, which Gary’s uncle bought from a implement dealership in Edgar.

Brad added, “our dad always said ‘tractors are like watermelons, keep the red and throw away the green.’”

The reconstruction and resurfacing project on Highway 6 has been well underway in Clay County, with in the area near the Highway 6 and Highway 14 north intersection. Work will continue from Harvard to current construction projects including patch work before the resurfacing begins. This image shows work Sutton through the spring of 2022. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Dennis and Vicki Valentine served as the grand marshals during the Aug. 29 parade at the Nebraska State Fair. He and his wife, Vicki, were driven through the parade and then honored during a reception that followed. Valentine has served on and been president of the Clay County Ag Society for many years. His vision was instrumental in the building of the activities building and addition to the Clay County Fairgrounds. Both Dennis and Vicki have spent their careers as educators and are supportive of school activities, as well as serve on church and golf boards and are members of the Investment Club. The Valentine family has a long history of being alumni and past and present members of 4-H. MELISSA WHITEFOOT | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Myron Petr, left, and Jim Hinrichs were honored by their fellow members of the Glenvil Volunteer Fire and Rescue Sunday. Petr and Hinrichs officially retired from firefighting after 39 and 54 years, respectively.

“Between the two there’s about 100 years of experience retiring...These guys have been through the bad time and good times,” VFD Chief Jim Fitzgerald said during the presentation.

“It was fun. It’s been an honor to belong as a volunteer firefighter,” Hinrichs said, adding for his fellow members, “it’s an honor, take it serious. Have fun and enjoy it.”

Each man received a plaque and clock for their efforts on the department; a barbecue was also hosted to honor them at the Glenvil park. ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Following the tragedy of 9/11, the mobile Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance was constructed and features names of all fallen soldiers since then.

The Wall of Remembrance will be in Sutton at the Fox Hollow Golf Course on Sept. 11 during the Hunter Hogan Foundation’s seventh annual golf tournament, and will be open for viewing for the public. This moment comes during the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Additionally, on Sept. 11, the Round Canopy Parachuting Team will be jumping onto the golf course at 8 a.m., pending weather and wind speeds.

The parachuting team, according to its website, is a “non-profit organization that wishes to highlight the accomplishments of allied paratroopers from WWII onward by fostering camaraderie among individuals who share a passion for round canopy parachuting and inspiration from the actions and deeds of paratroopers past.”

In less than two weeks the Clay County Fairgrounds in Clay Center will be full of antique tractors and equipment and vendors.

Prior to Old Trusty kicking off, there will be a trail ride and tractor drive starting at 4 p.m., Friday. Those participating will line up at the water tower.

Events then begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, for Old Trusty. Admission is $7 a day for adults; 6-12-yearolds are $1; children 5 and under are free. This includes free parking, evening shows, and shuttle access.

This year, OT will host the International Harvester Collectors Nebraska Chapter 12.

A draft horse and mule show will start at 9:30 a.m., with a quilt show at the Clay County Museum open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Clay County Board of Supervisors is narrowing in on finalizing its 2021-22 budget, with a public hearing to be scheduled in September.

Gene Ulmer, certified public accountant for Clay County, led the discussion on various options to balance the county budget during the regular board meeting on Aug. 24 at the courthouse in Clay Center.

For the past several years, he explained, the board has authorized using more of the Inheritance Fund to offset the need to raise property taxes of county residents. However, in 2021, sharply rising expenses mid-year required a larger transfer from the Inheritance Fund than had been forecasted when the 2020-21 budget was set.

The concern is not to overuse the Inheritance Fund, Ulmer continued, so that these contingency-type dollars will last into the future. However, relying less on the Inheritance Fund means increasing property taxes.