By Ashley D. Swanson

Journalism can be difficult, especially when death or tragedy is the subject. No matter how much I’ve written about either topic in the past, it never gets easier, especially when the death shouldn’t have happened in the first place, or people get hurt. Bluntly stated, I honestly hate this part of my job; I hate it with all my heart.

At the time of penning this column, it’s only been a couple of days since it was announced that the believed body of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe was found in rural Clay County.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

By Ashley D. Swanson

Journalism can be difficult, especially when death or tragedy is the subject. No matter how much I’ve written about either topic in the past, it never gets easier, especially when the death shouldn’t have happened in the first place, or people get hurt. Bluntly stated, I honestly hate this part of my job; I hate it with all my heart.

At the time of penning this column, it’s only been a couple of days since it was announced that the believed body of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe was found in rural Clay County.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

By Tory Duncan

Monday, Dec. 4 started as a normal Monday. I took a trip to Clay Center, went through the routines of starting of another week’s newspaper, talking with the staff and just going with the flow!

Then long about noon I started hearing about a lot of activity from law enforcement in south-central Clay County, a major convergence on the county, this quiet little county.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

HALEY APEL - IANR MEDIA Lincoln—A new University of Nebraska-Lincoln-led partnership is helping agricultural producers explore emerging technologies and identify ways to strengthen profitability without increasing risk during the growing season.

Organized by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Testing Ag Performance Solutions farm management competition involved managing center pivot-irrigated corn. Seventeen producers squared off against university scientists and two student groups in three categories: most profitable farm, highest input use efficiency and greatest grain yield.

April 19, 1947 - Dec. 7, 2017

BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

In March, the Clay County Sheriff’s office conducted a report on burglaries at two different buildings south of Sutton, and east of Highway 41. Taken were guns and other materials, Clay County Sheriff Jeff Franklin said.

These burglaries were only a small part of a larger operation. In one instance, video footage captured a grey jeep on the property where items were taken.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

Mari Hamburger sings a Christmas song while Matthew Sherman plays the tune for her on a violin that has belonged to his family for generations, during the Christmas at the Museum event in Clay Center on Sunday, Dec. 3.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

Digital footprints lead law enforcement to body believed to be Sydney Loofe of Lincoln

BY TORY DUNCAN & ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Lincoln Police and officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) announced Tuesday morning during a press conference from Lincoln that they believe the body of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe, who disappeared Nov. 15, has been found in rural Clay County.

“Our deepest heartfelt condolences to Sydney’s parents, George and Susie, her brother and sister, her friends, and all that were very fortunate enough to know her,” Randy Thysse, FBI special agent in the Omaha Division, said.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

The Cougars lose the first two games of the year, but win against David City Saturday

BY JORDYN HULINSKY

The Sandy Creek girls’ basketball team started the season rough, with one win and two losses in the first week of winter sports.

The Cougars lost 55-38 to Wood River Thursday, Nov. 30, lost 53-42 against Centura Friday, Dec. 1, and beat David City 49-24 Saturday, Dec. 2.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

Mustangs take the first-place plaque at the Harvard Invitational Saturday

By JORDYN HULINSKY

All three county schools competed at the Harvard wrestling invitational Saturday. Sutton came out with five champions, two second-place finishes, two third-place finishes, and one fourth-place finish to take the team title at the invite. South Central was the runner-up of the invite, earning two champions, four second-place finishes, and one third-place finish. Harvard took one second-place medal, one third-place medal and one fourth-place medal.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/