BY TORY DUNCAN

Sutton City Council members took the final steps during their September meeting Monday night at city hall, to endorse a reduction in the City of Sutton’s mill levy taken from property owners in the city limits, by trimming the levy by just over 20 percent.

The levy, which had been maxed out at 1.03, as to what the City of Sutton could ask for, will see a drop to approximately 0.83. That reduction marks the first levy change in the mill levy since the 2009- 10 budget year.

“The council’s reasoning for endorsing the budget that allows this reduction comes from wearing the hat … of leading a fiscally responsible government,” said City Administrator Jeff Hofaker.

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Clay Center grad Kristy Hajny shares reality of Montana fires

BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Think of thick, early morning fog, the kind of fog that keeps a person from seeing more than maybe a half a mile ahead of them.

That’s how Kristy Hajny, a Clay Center native and wildland firefighter, describes the smoke currently overtaking Montana and the surrounding states, only this time, the “fog” doesn’t go away by the afternoon.

“The air quality is as bad as they say it is,” she said. “It’s so thick and exceeds any EPA regulations...Missoula and Seely Lake are some of the worst places.”

As wildfires ravage across northwestern states, Hajny and her 10-person crew—Abajo Wildland Fire Module— have taken to helping fight back wherever they’re needed. This time, the crew geared up for the Liberty Fire burning between Missoula and Seeley Lake, in Montana.

BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Darrel Beck and his family are well known throughout Edgar. Their leadership roles, as well as involvement in their community earned them grand marshal at this year’s Old Trusty parades Saturday and Sunday.

Born and raised in Edgar, Darrel graduated from Edgar High School in 1960 and then attended Milford for two years to study farm diesel.

It was in 1963 that he started working for Ed Bussell at the Massey Ferguson Farm Equipment. Shortly after, in June 1963, he married Carol, where they were blessed with three sons—Kevin, David, and Craig. Today, they have three daughtersin- law, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

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BY JORDYN HULINSKY

Sandy Creek won three of four games last week. One Tuesday, Sept. 5 against Centennial and two at the Sandy Creek Tournament Saturday.

SANDY CREEK TOURNAMENT

The Cougars volleyball team faced three teams at the Sandy Creek–hosted tournament, Saturday. Sandy Creek won two of the three games: beat Ravenna 25-21 and 25-11, lost to Arcadia/ Loup City 25-20 and 25- 22, and beat Fillmore Central 25-21 and 25-23.

In the first game against the Ravenna Bluejays, Sandy Creek totaled 26 kills, five ace serves, nine blocks, and 45 digs.

Senior Coree Lipovsky led the team with seven kills, two ace serves, and 15 digs. Junior Grace Messenger also tallied two ace serves, and led with eight total blocks.

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The Mustangs improve to 3-0, defeating St. Cecilia 24-6 at home Friday

BY JORDYN HULINSKY

Sutton’s football team’s undefeated season remains alive and well as the Mustangs, behind a 16-point third quarter performance, improved to 3-0 with a 24-6 win Friday night over the Hastings St. Cecilia Bluehawks.

The Bluehawks kicked off to begin the game, deferring to the second half. Sutton, in turn, went on an 11-play drive with six first downs. Junior Brett Simonsen took the first five rushes for two first downs. The Mustangs initial drive, however, ended with an interception on the first pass play of the game.

St. Cecilia quickly handed the ball back with a threeand- out. Sutton earned another first down in the next five-play drive, which ended in a senior Chandler Stone punt.

Attendees of the annual Old Trusty Tractor Pull watch as contestants take their turn at trying to make a full pull.

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By Tory Duncan

You know, I have truly found over this past almost two weeks now with all of the natural disasters that have gone on in North America and Mexico with the massive earthquake, that there truly is a fine line on the perspective I have on journalism, newspaper reporting!

It’s obvious we all know about Hurricane Harvey and with what has been taking place with Hurricane Irma, these natural disasters are just that terrible and unimaginable!

By ASHLEY SWANSON

The U.S. is on fire and drowing at the same time.

People are losing their livelihoods, their homes, their land, and everything they’ve built, but one thing I haven’t seen people lose is hope.

I cannot begin to fathom the hurt and horror people have felt after Hurricane Harvey swept across Texas and Louisiana. I cannot begin to imagine having to watch acres of my land taken by unstoppable flames. Only once in my life have I seen a fire that took away people’s homes and the land they’ve worked so hard to keep up.

Only once in my life have I seen the tired but determined look on firefighter’s faces after working 20-some hour shifts.

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Graveside services to be held Sept. 17, 2017

There will be a graveside memorial service for Raymond and Brigid Lohmeier on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 10:15 a.m., at the Sutton Catholic Cemetery. The service will be followed by a gathering at the American Legion Hall in Sutton at 11 a.m. We look forward to celebrating with our family and my parent’s local Sutton friends. Gratefully, The Raymond Lohmeier Family.

Suttonite Kevin George aiding Nebraska National Guard efforts in aftermath of Hurricane Harvey

BY TORY DUNCAN

Both during and in the aftermath of what was Hurricane Harvey, which lambasted much of the Gulf of Mexico  coast line in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, help was abundant for the millions of people affected by what is being called one of the biggest natural disasters to hit the continental United States.

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