Winter Storm Jupiter officially hit Clay County Sunday, Jan. 15, beginning with rain and freezing overnight, coating anything and everything in ice, with more freezing rain hitting the area Monday. A half an inch of ice was reported on items around the county, with no major damage reported, other than broken trees and limbs.

The McDonald’s All-American Games released the rosters for the girls game during a selection show on ESPNU, naming Russ Ninemire, the veteran 40 year head coach at Sandy Creek High School, the head coach for the girls West team.

This year’s players were selected from more than 750 nominees by the McDonald’s All-American Games selection committee.

The event will take place, along with the boys game, on March 29 at Chicago’s United Center and features 24 of the top girls basketball players in the country.

Ninemire has built a culture of excellence and success at Sandy Creek while earning an unbelievable 10 state girls basketball championships, in classes C-1 and C-2, including the programs’ most dominate run from 1996-2001, winning six straight Class C-2 state titles.

Four individual titles, along with 11 total medalists, helped the Sutton wrestling team earn their third team title at the Superior Invitational in the past four years.

This season, just like last year, the Mustangs outlasted second place Smith Center, KS for the team title, upending the Redmen by two and a half points, 149.5-147.

Individual champions for the Mustangs included Lee Carlson (113), Anton Carlson (120), Chandler Stone (138) and Cameron Kleinschmidt (152).

Lee Carlson remained unbeaten, as the top ranked wrestler in Class C in his weight class with three pinfall wins during the meet. Carlson opened with a 39-second pin over Taylor Manchanthasouk of Red Cloud- Blue Hill, then gained a 3:24 pinfall win over Nicholas Beckman of Phillipsburg, KS, before gaining the 113-pound title with a 24 second pin over Austin Niblock, also of Phillipsburg.

The Sutton Mustangs found their groove this past week, picking off a pair of dominate wins to gain their fourth win in the past five games.

Sutton throttled both Wood River, 73-28, and Thayer Central, 76-38, improving to 7-5 on the year with the wins.

Thursday night’s battle at Wood River would see the Mustangs erupt for a 25-4 first quarter lead and a 53-16 halftime lead, before outscoring the Eagles 20-12 in the second half for the 45 point win.

Junior Trevor Leach, behind a 6-7 outing from three point range, scorched the Eagles for 26 points to lead the offensive onslaught. Seth George added 16 points and Devin Wagoner, 11. In all, nine Mustangs scored in the big win.

By Tory Duncan

Sandy Creek’s Russ Ninemire, a legend in his own, was honored this past Sunday with yet another milestone in his career, being named the head coach of the west girls basketball team, during the McDonalds All-American basketball game held in late March at the United Center in Chicago.

I remember the first time I did an in-depth interview with him, after Ninemire gained his 500th career win. One of the many things he shared about his experiences at Sandy Creek was his recollection of driving from Fremont to this little school district in the South part of Nebraska called Sandy Creek.

“I had no clue what was going to happen after taking a job here.”

By Ashley Swanson

Recently, National Geographic released an article about a type of bumblebee, the rust patched bumblebee, being put on the endangered species list.

The bee population decrease intrigues me, so following along with the consistent declines of bee populations and possible reasons for that decline is quite interesting.

The rusty patched bumblebee’s population has declined by 87 percent over the last two decades. While this may not seem significant to some, the potential demise of bumble and honeybees is a serious issue.

These bees, often viewed as pesky and dangerous, because of their stings, are actually incredibly helpful to pollination and the growing of plants.

By Brandy VanDeWalle

Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College at USMARC Jan. 31:

The annual Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College “Partners in Progress–Beef Seminar” will be held at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and Great Plains Veterinary Education Center near Clay Center on Jan. 31, 2017, with registration, coffee and donuts starting at 9 a.m.

The program will run from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. This program is sponsored by Nebraska Extension’s Farmers and Ranchers College and will feature several outstanding speakers discussing issues and management strategies that can affect the profitability of all beef producers. There is no cost for the event and the public is invited. It does include a noon meal, which means that early registration is necessary to reserve materials and the meal.

Dec. 14, 1920 - Jan. 9, 2017

Inez E. Watts (of rural Edgar, NE), the daughter of Carl and Eva McCauley, was born Dec. 14, 1920, at the family farm in Clay County, NE. She departed this life on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at the Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE at the age of 96 years and 26 days.

Inez attended rural schools in the Edgar vicinity and graduated from Edgar High School in 1938 with a certificate to teach rural elementary education in Clay and Nuckolls County. On June 2, 1941, Inez married James H. Watts in Pawnee City, NE. James and Inez committed their entire lives to farming, ranching and raising their family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James, one grandchild, two brothers (Orval and Harold) and numerous loved ones.

April 25, 1923 - Jan. 9, 2017

Hastings resident, Bernard D. Engel, 93, passed away Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at his home.

Services were Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, 10:30 a.m., at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial, with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations, was at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, NE. Visitation was Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, 5-7 p.m., with family present at the funeral home and one hour prior to service at the church. Memorials may be given to First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.lbvfh.com.

To call what Ron and Leota Griess have brought to the Sutton American Legion a career would be entirely incorrect, for the Griess couple, it was a lifestyle.

After 25 years as managers of the Sutton Legion, the Griess’ handed over their keys to incoming manager Cheryl Cunningham, who took over the reigns of the operation on Jan. 1.

Ron’s time with the Legion Club extends beyond the 25 years served as manager, as he closes out a 40-year career with the Sutton establishment.

“Back when I was younger, I held jobs at Maury’s, Johnny’s Cafe and the Legion, all at the same time.”

Along for the ride with the Griess’ has been daughter Sophie. If you ask her about her experience being raised in the Legion, she just offers up a big smile, and agrees that while being raised at the Legion, looking back, she wouldn’t have it any other way.