News

Harvard Public School’s annual back-to-school barbecue hosted several families Tuesday, Aug. 17. Along with food, the event had several activities set up for students, as well as allowed students and their parents/guardians to take a tour of the school, visit their classrooms and meet their teachers. ABOVE LEFT: Jesse Blazer tosses a football into a net holder. ABOVE RIGHT: Kaden Porter smiles big after landing a shot on the lever that releases water onto the volunteer sitting beneath it.

Yoel Arguijo and Analy Rascon enjoy some cotton candy on the lawn of the school Tuesday.

Third grader Teegan Dewey hugs his teacher, Jami Long, while visiting his new classroom.

LOETTA SWANSON & ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) Executive Director Michele Bever announced that the department began using Nebraska’s automated contact tracing software system to assist with case and contact investigation within the four-county health district.

“With the upward trend in weekly COVID-19 cases in our district, our staff is preparing to use Nebraska’s automated system, as needed, when the number of new cases goes beyond our staff’s capacity to investigate in a timely manner,” Bever said. “Using our in-house contact tracers, our goal is to reach people within 24 hours after we receive a positive result. We may need to leave messages if the person is not available. As cases increase, reaching people quickly becomes more and more difficult. The automated system will help us manage more of the cases in a timely manner.”

The children of Reid and McKenzie Ely made a generous donation to the Sutton Community Home of $180 from proceeds that they raised at a lemonade stand during the Sutton Farmers Market this past Saturday, Aug. 21. Pictured with SCH resident Ruth Griess and SCH Social Services and Activities Director Sophie Carlson is, in front, Madyn Ely, to her left is her brother Liam, while Broxton and Kylar are pictured in the back. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

ABOVE: Mia Whitten picks up bouncy balls from the bouncy ball drop event at Triple F Fest. BELOW: Chanda Essink calls out a letter and number during BINGO Saturday morning. ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Local counties are working with the Nebraska Forest Service to create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to enhance collaboration and communication among the various agencies and organizations that manage fire in the south central east part of Nebraska, and to help them effectively prepare for and respond to wildfire. People who work with land management, fire, or community preparedness, and other interested individuals are invited to provide input.

The CWPP area includes Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Jefferson, Nuckolls, Saline, Thayer, and Webster Counties. Landowners in counties that adopt the plan will be eligible to apply for federal and state cost-share funds for vegetative fuels reduction and other hazard mitigation efforts in at-risk areas within the CWPP boundary.

The plan may also provide increased opportunities for counties, municipalities, and rural fire districts to seek grant funding for other activities related to fire protection.

Family outings can be great bonding experiences, and parents may be happy to learn that there’s a host of budget-friendly activities that are fun and affordable.

• Movie night under the stars: For the relatively low cost of a mini projector and accompanying screen, parents can host routine outdoor movie nights in the backyard. Or have a movie night in cozy pajamas.

• Picnic in the park: Some families may be experiencing some sticker shock as they begin dining out again after eating their meals at home throughout the pandemic. Soaring food and supply costs and labor shortages have forced restaurant owners to raise prices. A picnic in the park can make for a wonderful family outing and won’t cost nearly as much as dining in person at a favorite restaurant.

The end of summer is near! The telltale sign is the beginning of the school year as all area schools are back in session.

Just where did the summer go? Hopefully many were able to enjoy some time away, even just for a weekend.

I was fortunate that my parents had jobs that we could take a summer vacation, providing wonderful memories.

This week’s article is a reminder that the cost of a first-class stamp (up to one ounce) will change on Sunday, Aug. 29. The new rate will be 58 cents.

Your second ounce will not change. Then for those who like to send postcards when on vacations, the stamp will be 40 cents.

I know there are people in Sutton who mail internationally, so a heads up that it will now cost $1.30 for an international stamp (one ounce or less).

If you mail larger envelopes (often called flats), the first ounce will be $1.16 and each additional ounce stays at the 20 cent rate. Certified mail will increase to $3.75.

Allegro Wolf Arts Center members hosted their annual ice cream social on Sunday, Aug. 22, at the center. Here, groups of people enjoy conversation and desserts. ASHLEY D. SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca will be streaming an on line Viola/ Cello Fiddling Workshop for folks who play viola, and/or cello.

The workshops will be from 7-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15, from, and 2:30-3:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 17. Each participant residing in the US will receive a copy of “The Viola Fiddling Tune Book,” or “The Cello Fiddling Tune Book.”

During these workshops attendees will play and discuss tunes from “The Viola Fiddling Tune Book” and the “The Cello Fiddling Tune Book” which share the same tunes in the same keys. Each of these has the tunes presented in score form with the melody line on top and a harmony part right beneath.

Different tunes will be played at each session. The cost for each workshop is $10. The cost of each optional book is $15 (includes shipping if ordered with workshop registration).

Sutton native David Claus is currently performing in a musical production at Lincoln’s TaDa Theater. The production, called “A Grand Night for Singing,” will be on stage for it’s final weekend, Aug. 28 and 29.

The production, consisting of 17 total cast members and features uplifting tributes to Broadway icons Rodgers and Hammerstein, celebrates the songs and lyrics that have defined the best of musical theatre. It’s an array of shows all packed in one with highlights from the world’s best-loved musicals, including The King and I, South Pacific, State Fair, Oklahoma, Cinderella, The Sound of Music and more.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.tadaproductions.info/grandnight. The theater is located at: 701 P Street in Lincoln.