Clay County is no small player in the U.S. beef industry.

With $109 billion in sales of cattle and calves per year, according to the 2017 Ag Census, Clay County ranks 29th out of Nebraska’s 93 counties and 122th out of the nation’s 3,055 cattle-producing counties.

When COVID-19 slammed into the national meatpacking network this spring, the ripples of effect were quickly felt throughout the beef industry, with spot prices dropping 30 percent in less than a week, and then quickly spread into futures.

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A total of 2,548 county ballots were cast for the primary election May 12.

The only contested race for Clay County—Harvard School Board—saw eight people vying for six spots to move on to the general election in November.

Votes totaled: Janet Hachtel, 227; Michelle M. Callahan, 202; Andrew Burbach, 190; Michael B. Nierman, 164; Bonnie Roberts, 145; Cory Marshall, 138; Jerrold Hester, 106; and Texas Wagner, 92.

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Memorial Day, a day that originally began as Decoration Day in the years following the Civil War, becoming an official holiday in 1971. It’s official recognition began after General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War Veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance in late May. The date of May 30 was the date selected in 1868 to begin what started as Decoration Day.

It was in 1968 that Congress passed the “uniform Monday Holiday Act,” which established Memorial Day as falling on the last Monday of May, to create what we now know as the three-day Memorial Day weekend. It officially became a federal holiday in 1971.

This year, as we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, to protect our rights as American’s, Memorial Day takes on a completely different look.

This is an unparalleled time in our nation, state, and city, in which every community leader is considering the best practice to protect the public health of citizens and those utilizing our pool facility and parks through a pandemic. A multitude of conference calls, Zoom meetings, and electronic data sharing has been occurring between Sutton leadership and the State of Nebraska DHHS, the governor’s COVID weekly conference calls, the South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD), updates from the League of Nebraska Municipalities staff, interaction between fellow NCMA colleagues and other sources. One of the many subjects discussed is potential the COVID-19 mandates would have on opening municipal public operated pools across the state. There are many logistical impacts and challenges that the Directed Health Measures, to protect the public health have created for city leaders to consider before opening pools.

The Lincoln Journal-Star announced it’s 2019-20 Academic All-State honors for the recent school year this past week.

In all, 27 student-athletes from Clay county earned honors from LJS, including four from Harvard, six at Sandy Creek and 17 from Sutton.

Harvard honorees included: Ashley Nierman in track and volleyball. Brothers Noah and Ben Okraska were honored in track, football and basketball, while Colton Roberts was honored in basketball and football.

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In an article written in the Clay County News’ May 24, 1990 issue, the writer shares a story about a monumental race in the girls Class C 800 meter run between Sutton’s Amy Ochsner and Sandy Creek’s Laurie Herbeck.

OMAHA—For the third time in as many meetings, Sutton’s Amy Ochsner and Sandy Creek’s Laurie Herbeck swept an 800 meter event, but the final encounter between the two Clay County top runners was the most meaningful.

Ochsner and Herbeck outran the rest of the field to finish first and second, respectively in the Class C 800 meter run at the Nebraska State Track meeting in Omaha last weekend.

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EDITORS NOTE: This is the second in a series of at least three weeks of state track memories of the past featured in the Clay County News files. Next week we will feature the Sutton boys 1990 Class C state track championship.

In an era that brought home numerous state track meet medals to Clay County, one of several big moments at the 1990 Nebraska State Track and Field Championships was a pair of gold-medal performances by Clay Center’s Klay Kluver and Sutton’s Clint Jones.

Kluver, who returned as the king of high jumping in Class D from the 1989 season, where he won top honors in the event with a leap of 6-6, returned to the scene in 1990 as a junior, to capture the ultimate gold, the all-class gold medal with a 6-7 effort.

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Glenvil resident Joseph P. “Joe” Wilson, 75, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2020, at his home.

Due to COVID-19 directed health measures, a private graveside service will be held at St. Paul’s Churchyard Cemetery, west of Glenvil. There will be no viewing or visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Joe P. Wilson Memorial Fund, c/o Janette Katen, PO Box 115, Glenvil, NE 68941. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Joe was born July 4, 1944, in Hastings, to Burdell P. and Mildred M. (Theesen) Wilson. He graduated from Glenvil High School in 1962. Joe married Linda Kay Carpenter on June 7, 1963; she preceded him in death on Sept. 25, 2012.

Members of the Sutton Volunteer Fire Department, along with area farmers, made quick work of a field fire just west of Sutton along Highway 6 during the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, April 15.

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Once it became apparent that schools would not be seeing its students back in the classroom this spring, Sandy Creek staff scrambled to put together an alternative learning program.

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