Hail strikes Nebraska crops each year, creating uncertainty and questions for farmers: “Does the level of damage warrant replanting or will the remaining stand yield better than a replant would? How should I adjust inputs for the remaining season? Would a cover crop be cost effective?”

RECORD SIZED HAIL

A hailstone with a diameter of 7 inches and a circumference of 18.75 inches fell near Aurora, during a June 22, 2003, storm, setting the U.S. record for largest hailstone. Since then, on July 23, 2010, a heavier hailstone (1.938 lb) with a larger diameter (8 inches) fell near Vivian, SD, taking the U.S. record.

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The Little Blue NRD Board is nearing the final draft re-write of its Groundwater Management Rules and Regulations.

Mike Onnen, manager of the Little Blue NRD, reports, “The Water Resources Committee is nearly finished with their deliberations on rule changes in pursuit of sustainability for the water resource of the district.”

The re-write of the district’s Groundwater Management Plan was approved by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in December 2017 paving the way for modifications of the triggers necessary for more proactive water management.

“The previous triggers allowed as much as 15 feet of additional groundwater declines in portions of the district before allocation of groundwater would occur,” Onnen said.

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By Tory Duncan

Throughout my career in the newspaper and printing business I’ve been told to be involved, pay attention and be a part of the communities that you live in.

One bit of advice several of my mentors always shared with me, including my father, is that we’re all only as good as the people we surround ourselves with.

That rings so loudly in my mind nearly each and everyday.

So when Saturday night came and the Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce honored me with the “Volunteer of the Year” award, during their annual banquet, to say the least I was humbled and had I took the microphone to share a proper thank you it certainly would include the chamber for the honor, but more importantly it would be the many other people that I surround myself with that makes this honor that much more special.

By Ashley D. Swanson

O ne of my favorite parts of covering an event is re-living it through the photos afterward.

When I’m back at the office and move back and forth between this photo and that one, laughing at the funny expressions or smiling at the precious ones.

This weekend I was able to do that again. When Sunday morning came, I unloaded all of the photos I had taken over the week/weekend and re-lived those moments.

I re-lived Thursday’s state speech competition at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, laughing at the funny faces and remembering the amazing speeches that got our county students to the final meet.

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April 2, 1939 - March 16, 2018

BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Three bids were approved by the Harvard City Council Tuesday, March 13, including two vehicle bids and a property bid.

Five bids were submitted for the former police cruiser, with the council accepting a $2,200 bid. Six bids were submitted for the 1987 Chevy pickup owned by the city, with the council accepting a $526 bid. Finally, property at the courts was put up for sale, with one bid being submitted for $300; the council voted 4-1 to accept the bid.

Council members discussed two dilapidated properties in Harvard. The first structure, which sits near the Veteran’s Memorial, was inspected and found to be in poor shape, and is in need of severe upgrades.

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3 candidates interviewed for open position

BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Candidate interviews for the open superintendent position at South Central Unified commenced Thursday, March 15, with candidates Julie Otero and Kenneth DeFrank, while on Friday, March 16, Ginger Meyer was interviewed.

Otero was offered the position by the SCU Board on Sunday, March 18, which she accepted—she will officially begin on July 1.

The candidates were asked 25 questions, based under five criteria areas and one miscellaneous area, including:

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BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

The Henry Golden Boy 22 Mag proudly sports the Pheasants Forever logo on the stock, splashing spots of a shiny, gold covering at various parts of the gun, and was purchased at a high price.

During the annual Pheasants Forever Banquet, several items, such as photographs, coolers, guns, outdoor items, and much more were auctioned off to the hundreds of people attending the event.

Money from each item auctioned off usually goes back to the organization for training and equipment purposes. The funds raised from the Henry Golden Boy, however, went toward a different purpose this year.

When the Henry Gold Boy gun was presented, Auctioneer Colt Pope announced the passing of Sutton resident Jessica Nuss earlier that morning, March 17. She had been battling cystic fibrosis and other medical issues for several years.

Clay Center was recently awarded the title of Best Tasting Water in Nebraska, by the Nebraska Rural Water Conference.

The annual conference, hosted in Kearney, is created as a training time for operators, as they are required to complete 10 hours of training within two years. During the conference, Kevin Thompson, superintendent in Clay Center, submitted a gallon of Clay Center’s water to a best tasting water conference; there were 14 water submissions.

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Mustangs, Fillies compete at Doane University

BY JORDYN HULINSKY

The Sutton’s boys’ track team took the team title at the Doane University Invitational hosted Friday, March 16. The boys scored 92 total team points.

Several Mustangs fared well beginning with junior Cameron Kleinschmidt and sophomore Jackson Perrien placing in the 60-meter dash. Kleinschmidt finished first with a time of 7.22 seconds; Perrien was eighth with a time of 7.74 seconds.

In the 200, junior Kyle Baumert finished second in 23.95 seconds. Junior James Griess and senior George Herndon followed in seventh and eighth, respectively, clocking a tied time of 25.47. Junior Brandon Friesen also ran the 200, finishing 14th with 26.13.

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